ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED; 


OR,   ITS 


ORIGIN, 


PROGRESS,  AND   PERNICIOUS  TENDENCY 


FULLY    DEVELOPED. 


BY 


HENRY    FIELD    JAMES, 

(OF       KENTUCKY.) 


CINCINNATI: 
E.    MORGAN     AND     SONS, 

NO.    Ill     MAIN     STREET. 

1856. 


*' 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1856,  by 
HENRY    FIELD    JAMES, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the  District 
Kentuckj-. 


E.    MORGAN    &    SONS, 
BTEREOTYPERS,   PRINTERS,    AND   BINDERS, 
111    MAIX    STREET. 


PREFACE. 


THAT  the  United  States  are  involved  in  very  great 
and  momentous  domestic  difficulties,  must  be  obvious 
to  all.  The  future  portends  most  serious  commotions. 
The  Author  was  insensibly  led  to  inquire,  by  what 
means,  and  by  what  agency,  had  this  great  nation  been 
brought  into  so  perilous  a  condition?  Why  was  it 
that  alienation  had  been  produced  between  North  and 
South ;  until  it  had  become  so  Utter  that  civil  war  is 
ready  to  burst  forth  in  one  of  the  Territories  ? 

He  could  not  fail  to  trace  these  immense  evils  to 
the  fanatical  spirit  of  ABOLITIONISM.  To  write  a  history 
of  its  origin,  progress,  and  pernicious  tendency,  the 
Author  felt  an  irresistible  impulse.  But  he  must 
confess,  he  entered  upon  the  task  with  great  distrust 
in  his  own  abilities  to  do  so  great  a  subject  anything 
like  adequate  justice.  He  dares  not  flatter  himself 
that  he  could  make  the  development  in  a  style  so 
captivating,  it  would  win  its  way  to  public  notice  and 
favor.  For  years  he  has  waited,  in  the  hope  some 
more  vigorous  pen  would  embark  in  this  undertaking. 
But  he  has  waited  in  vain.  The  Author,  therefore, 
throws  himself  upon  the  generosity  of  the  public,  in 
the  full  persuasion,  that  it  will  appreciate  his  effort,  to 
restore  concord  and  harmony  in  our  National  Councils. 

(iii) 

390187 


IV  PREFACE. 

His  object  is,  not  to  create  fresh  irritations ;  but 
"  to  pour  oil  upon  the  troubled  waters."  ABOLITIONISM, 
unfortunately,  has  a  fascination  North  truly  astonishing; 
to  open  the  eyes  of  those  under  its  influence  is  nearly 
hopeless;  and  yet  it  is  in  that  region,  if  the  Union  is 
to  be  preserved,  the  change  in  public  sentiment  must 
be  effected. 

But  the  Author  takes  a  pleasure  in  acknowledg 
ing,  that,  in  the  North,  there  are  many  true  friends 
whose  every  pulsation  is  in  favor  of  the  Union — who 
cling  to  it,  as  the  Ark  of  our  political  safety ;  and  who 
are  battling  with  manly  firmness  against  the  insidious 
wiles  and  disturbing  machinations  of  this  ever-growing 
fanaticism. 

The  most  ardent  desire  of  the  Author  has  been  to 
create  a  stronger  attachment  and  devotion  to  the  Union, 
by  showing  that  the  interests  of  all  the  States  are  so 
inseparably  interwoven,  that  a  dissolution  cannot  take 
place  without  entailing  mutual  injury  and  ruin. 

Hence,  how  powerful  the  incentives,  for  the  patriots 
of  the  North  and  South,  to  rally  under  one  common 
standard  and  preserve  our  National  Government  from 
the  hands  of  those  who,  aiming  to  build  up  a  great 
Sectional  Party,  will  involve  the  nation  in  perpetual 
discord — if  not,  eventually,  in  civil  war. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER I.  'Squire  Henry  Gray— His  Birth— Travels  and  Settle 
ment  in  Kentucky 7 

CHAPTER.  ...  II.  David  Gray  visits  his  uncle  Henry  in  Boone — Inter 
view  and  conversation 10 

CHAPTKR..  .III.  'Squire  Gray  resumes  the  subject — The  injury  to 
Slave  and  Master  from  Abolition  interference  clearly 
pointed  out 15 

CHAPTER.  .  .IV.    A  continuation  of  the  same  subject 21 

CHAPTER  . .  .V.    The  same  subject  continued— The  plan  of  the  Work 

defined 30 

CHAPTER.  .  .VI.    Africa — Its  Inhabitants — Their  manners  and  customs  37 

CHAPTER.. VII.  The  Slave-Trade — Its  Origin — Those  who  partici 
pated  in  its  Profits 41 

CHAPTER. VIII.  The  Origin  of  Abolitionism— A  Peep  into  England's 

Secret  Archives 48 

CHAPTER  . .  IX.     The  Document — Abolitionism 59 

CHAPTER X.    The  Union— The  Dangers  that  environ  it 66 

CHAPTER  . .  XI.  The  Grounds  of  controversy  between  North  and  South  74 

CHAPTER .  .XII.    The  Union— And  its  Dangers 94 

CHAPTER  XIII.    The  Altercation 106 

CHAPTER  .  XIV.    On  board  Steamer  Pike — Conversation  with  Captain 

Kidd 119 

CHAPTER  .  .XV.  Arrival  in  Cincinnati — Put  up  at  the  Dennison  House 
— Visit  a  Female  Acquaintance — The  Conversa 
tion — An  Incident  on  the  Street — And  departure 
on  the  cars  for  Sandusky  city 126 

CHAPTER  .  XVI.     Conversation  with  an  Eminent  Personage  on  the  way 

—Arrival  in  Sandusky  City 132 

At  a  Hotel — The  'Squire  goes  out  to  see  a  Man  hung — 

A  Dialogue  overheard  between  two  Men 138 

(v) 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  . .  XVIII.  Depart  to  Amherstburg  on  the  Steamer  Consti 
tution — Conversation  at  the  Landing  with  a 
Water-Carrier— With  a  Negro  in  Jail 142 

CHAPTER  . . .  .XIX.  'Squire  Gray  and  David  discovered  to  be  from 
Kentucky —  The  Insult —  The  Negro  Mob— 
Their  flight,  and  Arrival  in  Detroit 149 

CHAPTER XX.  'Squire  Gray  at  a  Hotel  in  Detroit— Thoughts  and 

Reflections  on  the  incidents  of  the  Day— Re 
ceives  an  Answer — Buys  Pony  and  Buggy — 
Makes  another  Excursion  into  Canada 154 

CHAPTER  ....  XXI.  'Squire  Gray  and  David  in  Sandwich— Conver 
sation  with  Mr.  Crane — They  go  out  into  the 
Country — Meet  with  his  Negroes  and  others — 
Conversation — Surrounded  by  a  Mob  of  Ne 
groes,  and  narrowly  escapes  with  his  Life. . .  .157 

CHAPTER  . . .  XXII.  Return  to  Detroit— Reflections — Riot  at  Sand 
wich—Descends  Lake  Erie  to  the  mouth  of 
Black  river — Thence  to  Elyria — Conversations 
with  various  Persons  on  the  Route 166 

CHAPTER  . .  XXIII.  The  'Squire  and  David  at  Elyria,  0. — Conversa 
tion  with  SHAN 171 

CHAPTER  . .  XXIV.  Arrival  at  Oberlin — Conversation  with  Professor 

WREN 180 

CHAPTER  . . .  XXV.    Dialogue  between  Professor  Wren  and  Shan. . .  .185 

CHAPTER  . .  XXVI.    Tom  Shaw's  soliloquy — His  Chastisement  and 

Expulsion 190 

CHAPTER  .  XXVII.     Conversation  between  Professor  Wren  and  Moon.  195 

CHAPTER  XXVIII.    The  Conversation  Continued 202 

CHAPTER  . .  XXIX.    Departure  from  Oberlin — Conversation  with  Lucy 

Brown 213 

CHAPTER  . . .  XXX.     David  and  the  'Squire  depart  from  Cleveland  to 

Cincinnati — Long  conversation  with  Darby  .  .219 

CHAPTER  . .  XXXI.    Conversation  continued 229 

CHAPTER  .  XXXII.  At  the  Dennison  House — Conversation  on  the 
value  of  the  Union,  in  relation  to  Cincinnati 

and  the  West, 236 

CHAPTER  .XXXIII.  The  'Squire  and  David  at  Home— The  Pony- 
Final  Conversation 245 

CHAPTER  .  XXXIV.    Conclusion  . .  250 


ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED, 


CHAPTEK    I. 

'Squire  Henry  Gray — His  Birth,  Travels,  and  Settlement  in  Boone 
County,  Ky. 

ON  the  memorable  day  of  the  20th  January,  in  the  year 
of  onr  Lord,  1799,  was  ushered  into  existence  the  hero  of 
our  tale.  So  very  particular  was  the  family  record  kept, 
that  not  only  the  day  and  year  were  strictly  noticed,  but 
the  very  hour  was  to  be  preserved  for  the  perusal  and 
gratification  of  all  future  ages ;  hence,  it  seems,  the  very 
identical  hour  was  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  that  the 
lungs  of  our  hero  were  first  inflated  by  this  terrene  atmo 
sphere,  and  his  eyes  opened  upon  time.  He  was  a  lovely 
child,  as  all  the  old  women  present  have  testified,  and  came 
forth  smiling  upon  this  land  of  sin  and  woe.  The  snow, 
this  eventful  morning,  in  soft  flakes  descended  quietly  to 
the  ground,  while  the  north  wind  sang  mournfully  around 
the  humble  dwelling ;  these  were  the  scenes  outside  of  the 
chamber  in  which  our  Henry  Gray  was  born,  the  day, 
year  and  hour  named. 

The  habitation  of  the  family  stood  on  an  elevated  spot  of 
ground,  commanding  an  extensive  view  of  the  meanders  of 
a  turbulent  little  creek,  familiarly  known  as  Crooked  Run. 
It  was  the  dividing  line  between  the  counties  of  Culpepper 
and  Madison,Virginia.  The  people  of  the  Old  Dominion 
have  a  dialect  peculiar  to  themselves.  Runs  were  the 
common  names  for  creeks  in  that  State,  and  this  happen 
ing  to  be  vastly  crooked,  was  named,  very  appropriately, 
"Crooked  Run"  In  the  western  horizon  the  Blue  Ridge 


c  ff  «,  t  ABOLITIONISM  'ENVEILED. 


reared  its  lofty  and  craggy  peaks,  often  covered  with  snow. 
Braced  by  the  mountain,  breeze,  our  little  Harry  grew  up 
with  a  vigorous  and  healthy  constitution.  His  parents  were 
not  only  attentive  to  the  true  development  of  his  physical 
powers,  but  bestowed  their  pious  care  upon  his  moral 
training,  and  the  proper  cultivation  of  his  mind.  At  an 
early  age  he  was  sent  to  school ;  but  tuition  was  at  a  very 
low  ebb  at  that  day — hence  but  little  knowledge  could  be 
acquired. 

Those,  then,  who  undertook  to  "  teach  the  young  idea 
how  to  shoot"  were  miserably  deficient  in  all  the  qualities 
essential  in  a  teacher.  Their  qualifications  never  ascended 
higher  than  common  Arithmetic,  and  as  to  aptitude  in 
imparting  knowledge,  that  was  a  gift  which  had  never  been 
bestowed  upon  them.  There  need  not  be  much  surprise, 
therefore,  if  our  Henry  verged  toward  manhood  without 
mental  improvement.  Though  he  had  been  to  many  dif 
ferent  teachers,  yet  when  about  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
could  barely  read  and  cipher.  The  fault  was  all  theirs : 
they  knew  not  how  to  smooth  the  path  of  knowledge  to 
make  learning  attractive,  by  removing  those  obstructions 
that  impede  and  sometimes  overwhelm  the  infantile  mind, 
in  its  efforts  to  comprehend  the  intricate  principles  of  the 
arts  and  sciences.  He  was  suffered  to  grope  his  way,  as 
best  he  could  ;  and  it  is  not  astonishing  that  his  progress 
was  slow  and  discouraging. 

However,  the  scene  now  undergoes  a  change ;  better 
teachers  came  into  the  vicinity,  and  his  pathway  became 
illuminated.  He  imbibed  a  taste  for  learning — he  devoted 
his  whole  mind  to  his  studies.  He  resolved  to  be  a  thor 
ough  scholar  in  all  the  branches  of  a  good  English  educa 
tion,  and  in  this  he  eminently  succeeded.  None  could 
speak  or  -write  his  native  tongue  more  correctly  than  he. 

Having  arrived  at  man's  estate,  he  selects  for  his  help 
mate  one  of  the  fair  daughters  of  the  land.  In  the  choice 
of  a  wife  he  was  greatly  blessed.  Now  the  thoughts  of 
our  Henry  Gray  were  turned  to  the  West.  The  fertility 
of  the  Ohio 'valley  was  diffused  throughout  all  that  region 
of  country.  He  decided,  therefore,  with  his  numerous 
slaves  to  emigrate  to  the  West. 

Not  so  with  his  brother  John,  two  years  older  in  age, 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  9 

He,  with  his  family  and  slaves,  went  to  the  South,  and 
settled  upon  the  fertile  hills  back  of  Rodney,  Mississippi. 

In  the  fall  of  1824,  our  Henry  Gray,  with  his  family, 
descended  the  Ohio  from  Wheeling,  and  landed  on  the 
Kentucky  side,  just  above  the  mouth  of  Big  Bone  Creek. 
There  a  most  spacious  bottom,  of  unsurpassed  fertility, 
spread  out  to  the  distant  hills.  Here  he  had  purchased 
a  large  body  of  land,  and  intended  to  spend  the  balance 
of  his  days.  The  forest  fell  before  the  vigorous  strokes 
of  his  numerous  slaves,  whose  axes  kept  up  an  unceasing 
noise.  Ere  many  years  a  beautiful  and  extensive  farm 
was  opened,  and  a  splendid  and  commodious  brick  dwell 
ing,  situated  a  short  distance  from  the  banks  of  the  Ohio 
river,  rose  gracefully  to  view.  On  the  lower  edge  of  his 
farm  a  little  winding  stream  pushed  its  silent  waters  to 
the  placid  Ohio.  This  was  Big  Bone — so  named  from 
the  mammoth  bones  found  at  a  salt  spring  near  its  head. 

Blessed  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  here,  for  many  years 
our  Henry  Gray  resided  in  rural  elegance.  He  had  seve 
ral  beautiful  daughters,  who  made  his  house  very  attrac 
tive.  His  unbounded  hospitality  was  a  theme  of  admira 
tion  throughout  the  surrounding  country,  but  it  was  just 
such  hospitality  as  is  common  to  all  the  sons  of  the  Old 
Dominion.  He  became  popular  with  the  people,  and 
was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace,  an  office  which  he 
held  for  many  years,  until  he  was  universally  known  as 
'Squire  Gray.  The  surname  was  usually  dropped  in 
familiar  conversation,  and  the  'Squire  only  used. 

His  library  was  extensive,  and  composed  of  very  valu 
able  and  well  selected  books  not  often  met  with  at  a  far 
mer's  residence.  The  constitution  and  laws  of  his  country 
he  had  made  his  particular  study,  and  thoroughly  under 
stood.  As  a  politician,  few  excelled  him.  He  was  a 
complete  master  of  all  political  questions  which  had  agi 
tated  the  country  the  last  twenty-five  years.  Abolitionism 
he  had  watched  from  its  earliest  germ  up  to  its  present 
amazing  and  dangerous  growth.  Whenever  that  subject 
was  named,  his  eyes  beamed  with  fire,  and  the  vast  fund 
of  information  he  possessed  in  relation  to  it,  was  poured 
forth  with  warmth  and  great  energy. 

He  was  a  true  lover  of  the  Union  ;  its  perpetuity  he 


10  ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED. 

looked  upon  as  an  object  essential  to  the  peace,  prosperity, 
and  glory  of  the  States.  The  bare  idea  of  its  dissolution 
filled  his  patriotic  bosom  with  unutterable  horror.  He 
was  indeed,  in  the  language  of  the  great  and  lamented 
Webster,  u  for  the  Union,  one  and  inseparable,  now  and 
forever." 

In  the  year  1840,  his  brother,  John  Gray  and  family, 
from  the  South,  spent  the  summer  with  the  'Squire,  at 
his  residence  in  Boone.  They  had  with  them  a  little  son, 
named  David,  then  several  years  old,  very  sprightly  and 
interesting. 

Never  were  two  brothers  more  endeared  to  each  other. 
Their  hearts  were  truly  knit  together.  As  masters,  they 
were  kind  and  humane.  They  governed  their  families 
like  the  patriarchs  of  old.  Between  Henry  and  his  slaves 
there  were  great  confidence  and  affection  prevailing  :  no 
discord  in  his  family. 


CHAPTEK   II. 

David  Gray— Visits  his  Uncle  Henry  in  Boone  —  Interview  and 
Conversation. 

DAVID  GRAY  was  an  amiable  youth — true  benevolence 
beamed  in  his  countenance.  Upon  the  borders  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  river,  the  father  of  waters,  near  Rodney,  he  was  born, 
and  there  had  grown  up  to  manhood.  He  was  thoroughly 
educated — his  mind  was  trained  to  a  close  and  full  investi 
gation  of  subjects.  He  was  master  of  the  arts  and 
sciences,  and  many  of  the  ancient  and  modern  languages. 
In  the  spring  of  1855,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  returns 
home  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  rural  scenery. 

He  had  long  been  immured  in  the  walls  of  a  college, 
devoting  all  the  energies  of  his  mind  to  comprehend  the 
various  studies  in  which  he  had  been  engaged,  and  now 
he  comes  forth,  with  all  the  ardor  of  youth,  to  intermingle 
with  relatives  and  society ;  to  home,  sweet  home,  he 
returns,  after  long  absence.  There  he  meets  his  dear 
parents,  who  receive  him  with  great  affection.  The  old 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  11 

family  servants  crowd  around  him,  shake  the  hand  of 
Massa  David,  while  tears  of  joy  flow  down  their  cheeks. 
After  enjoying,  for  a  season,  the  pleasures  of  home,  Da 
vid  felt  an  irresistible  impulse  to  pay  a  visit  to  his  aged 
uncle  in  Boone. 

"Ah!"  says  he  to  himself,  "I  have  now  arrived  at 
manhood.  1  have  closed  my  collegiate  course.  I  have 
not  sought  l  shallow  draughts,'  which  merely  'intoxicate 
the  brain,'  but  I  have  aimed.  '  to  drink  deep  of  the  Pierian 
Spring.'  I  have  long  been  poring  over  musty  lore.  It 
is  true  I  have  retired  from  college  with  all  the  honors  of  a 
regular  graduation.  As  a  scholar  I  stand  on  the  highest 
list ;  and  yet  I  cannot  say  I  am  acquainted  with  the  excit 
ing  scenes  of  real  life.  I  understand  the  events  that  have 
transpired  previous  to  my  day  better  than  I  do  the  mighty 
throes  of  the  world  in  this  age.  I  have  traced  mankind, 
so  far  as  history  enabled  me,  from  old  Adam  down  to  the 
present  century.  The  multiplication  of  mankind,  the  rise 
and  fall  of  empires,  the  bloody  revolutions  of  nations,  and 
the  dread  carnage  of  war,  are  all  imprinted  upon  the  tab 
lets  of  my  memory  in  lasting  characters.  The  nature  of 
man,  as  there  developed,  I  fully  comprehend.  But  as  old 
time  drives  his  car  forward,  new  inventions  are  made — 
the  social  and  moral  relations  of  our  race  are  approximat 
ing  to  perfection.  What  is  the  extent  of  that  approxima 
tion,  I  am  not  fully  advised. 

"  Upon  the  theater  of  life,  I  am  now  entering  at  a  most 
auspicious  period  I  am  persuaded.  I  am  a  citizen,  not 
merely  of  Mississippi,  but  of  the  United  States — of  this 
great  Federal  Union — of  this  galaxy  of  States,  whose  stars 
and  stripes  float  proudly  over  every  sea.  I  have  been 
reared  in  the  sunny  South,  amid  slavery,  but  that  makes 
no  difference  ;  I  am  hailed  as  a  brother,  as  a  citizen  of  this 
great  community,  wherever  I  may  travel,  whether  in  the 
North,  East  or  West.  A  delightful  thought!  Here  are 
thirty -one  States,  some  of  them  empires  within  themselves, 
containing  over  twenty-three  millions  of  people,  all  com 
bined  under  a  Federal  Head.  For  all  national  purposes 
they  are  one  people,  guided  by  one  will.  Ah !  here  lies 
the  secret  of  our  greatness. 

"  The  vast  resources,  the  physical  power  of  this  whole 


12  ABOLITIONISM   UNYEILED. 

nation  can  be  concentrated  in  sustaining  the  rights  and 
honor  of  the  United  States.  Not  like  the  petty  States  of 
Greece,  wasting  our  means  and  strength  in  intestine  broils 
and  collisions,  thus  destroying  and  eating  up  each  other's 
vitals.  No,  no,  we  are  reposing  quietly  like  lambs  here 
at  home ;  but  let  some  great  emergency  call  these  sleeping 
energies  forth;  let  some  foreign  —  ay,  any  nation  upon 
earth,  trample  upon  our  rights  or  insult  our  flag,  then  we 
are  terrible — I  might  say,  invincible  in  battle  array.  But 
I  must  travel. 

u  I  have  not  yet,  but  once,  been  out  of  the  bounds  of  my 
native  State.  I  am  a  Southerner  in  reality.  I  have  seen 
nothing  but  cotton-fields,  worked  by  slaves,  all  my  life. 
Well,  these  creatures,  notwithstanding,  appear  happy.  I 
am  disposed  to  think  no  other  laborers  are  better  fed, 
have  more  comfortable  houses,  or  work  less.  This  is  only 
my  naked  impression.  They  surely  are  contented — they 
have  no  cares  or  anxieties  for  to-morrow.  Oh !  how  much 
have  I  been  amused  with  their  dancing — their  very  souls 
seemed  absorbed  in  the  amusement.  Well,  well,  these 
things  I  have  seen — let  them  pass. 

"  Now,  the  inquiry  with  me  is,  Where  shall  I  spend  the 
summer?  I  must  think.  I  have  an  uncle — a  hospitable 
old  gentleman — residing  on  the  bank  of  the  Ohio  river,  in 
Kentucky.  Yes,  many  years  ago,  while  I  was  a  mere 
boy,  I  was  there.  I  shall  always  remember  him  and  his 
family,  for  I  spent  my  time  there  so  pleasantly.  He  had 
some  pretty  little  daughters,  with  fine  rosy  cheeks,  and 
black  eyes.  Sweet  cousins  they  were.  Methinks  I  would 
not  know  them  now.  They  have  grown  up,  married,  and 
moved  away. 

"Oh!  what  a  mighty  change  time  makes!  Then, 
again,  he  had  some  good,  old,  faithful  servants.  How 
kindly  they  treated  me.  If  I  should  arrive  there,  I  shall 
see  them  all  again.  My  uncle  was  a  kind  and  humane 
man.  His  slaves  all  loved  him,  and  rendered  a  cheerful 
obedience  to  his  commands.  A  family  so  happy  I  wish 
once  more  to  visit.  My  parents  will  consent,  and  I  am 
decided  to  go.  Yes,  yes !  I  must  once  more  sit  on  the 
banks  of  the  placid  Ohio,  and  on  the  flowery  banks  of 
that  little  meandering  stream  Big  Bone.  How  delightful 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  13 

the  scenery.  The  hills  rise  back  with  a  regular  ascent  — 
covered  with  the  richest  verdure.  Upon  their  sides  feed 
the  bleating  sheep  and  lowing  herds  of  cattle. 

u  I  will  prepare  and  be  off  in  a  few  days.  Come,  John, 
tell  the  washerwoman  to  have  all  my  clothes  in  readiness, 
as  I  am  resolved  to  take  a  long  journey." 

uOh!  Massa  David,  only  bin  home  dese  few  weeks, 
now  goin'  ag'in.  What  on  -arth  can  make  you  do  dis 
way." 

"Ah !  John,  I  have  just  been  thinking  of  a  dear  old  uncle 
I  have  living  up  in  Kentucky.  I  purpose  to  go  and  see 
him.  He  is  growing  in  years,  and  may,  ere-long,  be 
gathered  to  his  fathers.  I  want  to  enjoy  his  society  once 
more  this  side  the  grave." 

"  Oh  !  deary  me.  I  knows  Massa  Henry  well.  Him 
and  me  be  about  de  same  age.  We  used  to  hunt  de 
coons  and  'possums  together  in  Old  Virginny.  He  is 
mi'ty  kind  hearted  to  de  nigger.  'Member  me  to  all  de 
black  folks,  Tom,  Dick,  Joe — all  dem  niggers  dare  —  tell 
'em  old  John  is  still  kicking  dis  side  of  de  grave." 

"  I  will  not  forget,  John,  to  do  so." 

Soon  David  hailed  a  steamer  at  Rodney,  destined  for 
the  Ohio  river,  and,  without  any  occurrence  worth  noting, 
lands  at  his  uncle's  in  Boone,  where  the  following  con 
versation  ensued: 

"  Do  you  remember  me,  uncle  ?" 

"I  am  not  sure  I  do.  I  can  see  a  slight  resemblance 
in  your  features  to  a  brother  I  have  in  the  south  ;  but  if 
you  are  his  son  you  have  grown  out  of  my  knowledge. 
Several  years  ago,  he  and  family  spent  the  summer  with 
me.  He  had  an  interesting  little  son,  David,  with  him, 
whom  I  tenderly  loved.  Can  you  be  the  same  ?" 

"  I  am,  uncle,  that  identical  boy." 

"  God  bless  you,  David ;  I  am  happy,  very  happy,  once 
more  to  have  you  under  our  roof.  I  have  often  thought, 
if  I  could  again  have  your  society  for  a  season,  I  would 
be  willing  to  depart  in  peace." 

"Why  so,  uncle?" 

"The  answer  to  that  question  involves  a  long  story  — 
too  long  to  enter  upon  it  this  evening.  I  have  no  doubt 
you  are  greatly  fatigued  after  your  tedious  voyage,  and 


14  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

will  need  much  repose.  I  will  not  trouble  you  now  with 
the  important  matters  weighing  heavily  upon  my  mind. 
As  you  doubtless  will  spend  with  me  the  whole  summer, 
we  shall  have  ample  time  to  go  through  the  discussion 
which  this  dangerous  crisis  in  national  affairs  demands." 

"Very  well,  uncle,  I  shall  be  ready  at  this  or  any  other 
time  to  hear  whatever  you  are  disposed  to  communicate. 
I  do  not  know  at  present  to  what  particular  subject 
you  allude,  but  my  object  in  coming  up  was  to  seek  in 
formation.  I  am  happy  in  having  it  in  my  power  to 
spend  this  summer  with  you.  From  your  age  and  intelli 
gence  I  hope  I  may  be  instructed  in  many  things  of  which 
I  am  now  partially  ignorant.  How  are  the  good  old  servants 
that  you  owned  some  years  ago  ?  I  want  at  once  to  go 
to  the  cabins  to  see  them  all.  I  know  they  will  be  very 
glad  to  see  me." 

"Alas!  David,  it  pains  me  to  say,  you  will  find  none 
there — the  cabins  are  all  vacated,  silent  as  the  tombs. 
You  have  come  to  a  deserted  plantation." 

"  What,  uncle,  can  be  the  cause  of  this  great  change 
in  your  domestic  affairs  ?  What  evil  demon  has  been  at 
work  to  destroy  that  peace  and  harmony  in  your  family  I 
witnessed  years  ago  ?  Then  there  was  confidence  between 
master  and  slave,  reciprocal  feelings  of  friendship.  I  can 
not  see  how  that  faithful  old  servant  Tom,  reared  by  you 
from  a  boy — descended  to  you  by  inheritance — could  be 
enticed  away." 

"You  have,  David,  made  an  allusion  to  those  very 
matters  which  have  borne  so  heavily  upon  me.  I  have 
been  constrained  to  do,  what  I  never  supposed  I  would 
do  during  my  life — to  part  with  my  slaves.  They  are 
gone,  not  to  Canada,  but  to  the  south,  and  I  have  their 
value  in  money.  The  reasons  for  such  an  act  I  will  here 
after  detail." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  15 


CHAPTEK   III. 

'Squire  Gray  resumes  the  subject  —  The  injury  to  Slave  and  Master, 
from  Abolition  interference,  clearly  pointed  out. 

EARLY  the  ensuing  morning,  David  arose,  and  met  his 
uncle  in  the  parlor. 

"  Well,  David,"  says  he,  "I  hope  that  sleep,  'tired 
nature's  sweet  restorer,'  has  prepared  you  for  the  duties 
of  the  day.  The  sun  has  just  spread  abroad  his  rays — 
the  little  birds,  with  their  sweetest  songs  have  welcomed 
the  returning  day  ;  but  when  I  look  abroad  upon  my  ex 
tended  fields,  covered  with  numerous  cattle  and  sheep,  I 
feel  sensibly  the  inconvenience  to  which  I  am  subjected 
by  the  removal  of  my  slaves." 

u  I  have  no  doubt  of  that,  uncle,"  replied  David.  "You 
have,  from  your  infancy,  been  accustomed  to  them,  and 
you  have  now  to  depend  upon  hired  labor.  I  cannot  say 
how  it  may  succeed  here ;  but  in  the  cotton  region  I  know 
it  would  be  a  perfect  failure.  It  is  possible  you  may  con 
trive  to  graze  most  of  your  land,  and  cultivate  annually 
only  a  small  portion  in  grain,  without  the  hiring  of  many 
hands  ;  and  in  this  way  you  may  derive  from  your  estate 
a  moderate  income." 

"  Be  that  as  it  may,  David,  I  will  never  repent  of  what 
I  have  done.  I  did  not  act  in  haste,  or  from  a  sudden 
impulse  of  passion  ;  but  upon  full  and  mature  considera 
tion.  The  act  afforded  me  no  pleasure  in  the  world;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  it  was  one  of  the  most  painful  nature  I 
ever  performed." 

u  Oh  !  cruel  destiny,  uncle  ;  what  could  have  induced 
you  to  perform  such  an  act  of  apparent  cruelty  ?  Surely 
there  must  have  been  powerful  causes  to  have  constrained 
you  to  the  performance  of  such  a  deed." 

"Truly,  truly,  David;  but  now  I  will  detail  to  you 
why  I  have  thus  acted  —  not  only  myself,  but  many  of 
my  neighbors.  We  reside  here  near  the  Ohio  river,  on 
the  borders  of  the  state,  and  have  suffered  much  from 
Abolitionism.  Of  its  origin,  progress,  and  pernicious 
tendency,  perhaps  you  may,  in  some  degree,  be  ignorant. 


16  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

This  is  that  foul  demon  that  has  come  in  among  us,  to 
produce  those  results  which  all  humane  persons  so  much 
deplore.  As  you  are  from  the  far  south,  you  are  not  sen 
sible  of  its  encroachments.  I  rejoice,  therefore,  that  I 
have  it  in  my  power  to  furnish  you  with  a  history  of  ABO 
LITIONISM,  which  you  will  find  contains  more  truth  than 
fiction.  When  you  return  home,  you  will  remember  the 
solemn  declarations  of  your  aged  uncle,  whose  head  is 
blossoming  for  the  grave.  I  have  passed  the  meridian  of 
time,  and  I  am  now  descending  to  the  vale  of  death. 
What  I  shall  take  the  liberty  to  utter  in  your  hearing  the 
present  summer,  I  hope  will  make  a  lasting  impression 
upon  your  mind.  You  are  young — -just  entering  upon  the 
theater  of  life  ;  hence,  when  this  poor  frame  of  mine  may 
rest  quietly  beneath  the  sods  of  the  valley,  upon  you  and 
the  rising  generation  will  this  rich  inheritance  of  freedom 
be  devolved.  By  the  blood  of  martyred  patriots  it  was 
achieved,  and  it  can  only  be  preserved  by  eternal  vigi 
lance.  That  all  the  privileges  we  enjoy  depend  upon  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  I  am  firmly  persuaded.  Its 
dissolution  would  involve  a  train  of  evils  too  horrible  to 
contemplate — civil  war  would  soon  rage  between  North 
and  South,  which  would  only  end  by  entailing  upon  the 
country  one  long  night  of  gloomy  despotism. 

"  The  commencement  of  the  contest  would  be  to  liberate 
three  millions  of  African  slaves,  but  its  end  the  enslave 
ment  of  all,  without  regard  to  color.  Then,  indeed,  the 
iron  rule  of  some  military  chieftain  would  hush  to  ever 
lasting  silence  the  wild  fanaticism  that  goaded  the  South 
to  madness.  Its  fearful  visage  never  more  would  be  reared 
to  proclaim  the  inalienable  rights  of  man,  or  to  cheer  on 
his  way  'the  panting  fugitive.'  When  intolerable  slavery 
shall  press  to  the  earth  the  teeming  millions  that  may  in 
habit  this  vast  western  continent,  there  will  be  no  room 
for  the  exercise  of  philanthropy.  Pens  and  tongues  would 
no  longer  be  employed  in  the  syren  song  of  emancipating 
the  world.  Blot  out  this  luminous  spot  on  earth — the 
only  spot  upon  which  liberty  has  found  an  abiding  place — 
then  the  sable  cloud  of  despotism  would  enshrine  the  face 
of  this  globe.  But  I  must  answer  the  question  which 
you  have  propounded.  Old  people  must  be  indulged  in 


ABOLITIONISM   UNTEILED.  17 

a  greater  latitude  of  digression  than  would  be  allowable 
in  a  methodical  treatise,  or  one  governed  by  the  strict 
rules  of  logic.  You  will  pardon  me,  therefore,  for  those 
occasional  flights  into  which  I  may  sometimes  be  betrayed. 
I  shall  not  fail,  in  the  end,  to  give  you  the  desired  in 
formation. 

"  Xow,  as  to  the  causes  of  that  act  to  which  allusion 
has  been  made.  I  had  to  perform  it  with  the  iron  nerve 
of  Cato.  I  am  aware  that  in  one  region  of  our  country  I 
shall,  by  many,  be  deemed  a  monster  of  cruelty.  But  I 
flatter  myself,  when  the  whole  story  is  heard,  I  shall  stand 
acquitted  of  any  impropriety  in  the  minds  of  all  good 
people,  wherever  they  may  reside,  either  north  or  south. 
To  the  impartial  arbitrament  of  the  whole  world  I  am 
willing  for  that  act  to  be  submitted,  only  claiming  the 
privilege  of  being  heard  in  my  own  defense  before  the 
final  verdict  shall  be  rendered. 

"With  slavery  I  have  been  conversant  all  my  life — 
nursed  by  slaves  and  reared  in  their  midst.  I  have  had 
the  management  and  control  of  them  ever  since  I  was 
eighteen  years  of  age.  I  knew  them  well  before  Abolition 
was  introduced ;  I  know  them  now  since  its  baneful  in 
fluence  has  been  felt.  Look  at  the  African  slave  in  his 
native  simplicity,  before  this  wily  serpent  had  crept  in  to 
mar  his  peace  and  happiness;  and  what  do  we  behold  ? 

"  A  dependent  and  faithful  creature,  looking  up  to  his 
master  as  his  best  friend  and  protector.  The  relation 
between  them  being  one  of  mutual  kindness  and  affection. 
I  have  known  many  of  the  native  Africans  who  were 
torn  from  their  homes  and  sold  into  bondage  in  this 
western  world.  They  all  concurred  in  opinion  that  they 
were  kidnapped  and  sold  by  their  own  people.  The 
wrong  of  the  whites — if  wrong  it  must  be  called — con 
sisted  only  in  buying. 

uWhen  I  think  ho\v  it  used  to  be  with  my  slaves,  and 
what  a  great  change  was  finally  produced  in  them,  I  can 
not  forbear  venting  many  heavy  curses  upon  Abolition 
ism — the  cause  of  this  dire  change  in  my  affairs.  A  few 
slaves  I  purchased,  but  the  most  of  those  I  owned  de 
scended  to  me  by  inheritance.  They  came  down  from 
remote  ancestors,  till  they  fell  into  my  hands.  I  con- 


18  ABOLITIONISM   UNVELIED. 

sidered  them  an  entail  upon  the  present  generation. 
Whatever  might  have  been  the  iniquity  of  the  slave- 
trade,  we  were  innocent  of  it.  It  was  by  no  means  an 
original  question  when  I  came  upon  the  stage  of  life:  the 
evil — if  evil  it  was — had  all  been  perpetrated.  These 
Africans  were  here,  in  our  possession,  and  what  to  do 
with  them,  was  the  only  question  left  for  us  to  solve. 

"  So  far  as  depended  upon  myself,  I  considered  it  my 
duty  to  treat  those  slaves  I  owned  with  all  the  humanity 
consistent  with  good  government.  No  family  establish 
ment  can  be  happy  or  prosperous  without  submission  to 
the  head.  There  must  be  some  one  to  direct  and  control, 
as  well  as  to  labor.  Thus  the  farming  operations  are 
carried  on,  whether  by  slave  or  free-labor.  If  I  hire  a 
man  to  work  at  wages,  he  must  use  proper  diligence  to 
do  the  work  I  assign  him ;  otherwise  I  dismiss  him  from 
my  employ.  Obedience  in  both  cases  is  required,  though 
the  mode  of  punishment  for  disobedience  may  be  differ 
ent.  The  same  work  has  to  be  done  either  by  white  or 
black.  Without  c  the  sweat  of  the  brow '  the  seed  will 
not  be  sown,  nor  will  the  corn  be  made  or  saved. 

"  The  whole  human  family  are  mainly  dependent  on 
the  products  of  the  soil  for  subsistence.  With  the  most 
diligent  industry  the  annual  products  will  be  annually 
consumed.  Those  who  are  trying  to  destroy  the  agricul 
ture  of  the  slave  states,  by  enticing  away  laborers,  are 
doing  an  injury  that  may  be  seriously  felt.  I  have  never 
thought  it  wrong  to  labor  or  require  it  of  others.  My 
destiny  happened  to  be  thrown  among  slaves,  and  to  that 
kind  of  labor  I  have  been  accustomed  from  my  infancy. 
To  them  I  have  always  aimed  to  be  kind  and  humane. 
Whenever  I  had  to  punish,  which  I  had  sometimes  to  do, 
it  was  always  tempered  with  mercy.  I  never  chastized 
to  gratify  a  revengeful  feeling;  but  did  it  purely  for  the 
benefit  of  the  offender  and  to  maintain  good  order  in  my 
family. 

"  Of  my  slaves  I  was  always  cautious  not  to  require 
anything  unreasonable  or  unjust.  I  worked  them  no 
harder — I  might,  in  fact,  say  not  so  hard  as  every  labor 
ing  man  has  to  work.  I  provided  them  good,  comforta 
ble  houses  in  which  to  reside,  and  supplied  them  with 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  19 

good,  wholesome  food  in  sufficient  quantities.  Their 
clothing  was  warm  in  winter,  made  of  wool,  manufac 
tured  in  the  family :  summer  wear  was  either  cotton  or 
linen. 

"  To  their  health  I  paid  strict  attention.  In  sickness, 
medical  service  was  immediately  employed.  They  never 
suffered  for  the  want  of  nursing.  Thus  I  have  endeav 
ored  to  discharge  every  duty  incumbent  upon  me.  I  was 
always  anxious  to  promote  the  health  and  happiness  of 
my  slaves.  I  gave  them  many  advantages — they  had  a 
truck-patch.  From  the  sale  of  articles  which  they  would 
thus  raise,  and  from  other  sources,  they  were  enabled  to 
dress  very  finely  on  the  Sabbath:  at  which  time  they 
usually  appeared  in  their  silks  and  broadcloths. 

"Until  recently,  contentment  seemed  to  prevail  among 
them.  Heretofore  between  them  and  myself  confidence 
and  good  feelings  existed.  I  held  them  to  be  my  true  and 
faithful  domestics  who  would  not,  on  any  occasion,  hurt  a 
hair  of  my  head ;  and  hence  I  felt  myself  as  safe  in  their 
company  as  anywhere  else  in  the  world.  I  maintained 
my  patriarchal  authority  —  for  such  I  felt  it  to  be  and 
nothing  more — with  a  steady  and  even  balance. 

"  The  responsibility  of  taking  care  of  a  portion 
of  the  African  race  —  of  administering  to  their  wants 
in  sickness  and  in  health,  I  felt  was  placed  upon 
me;  whether  rightfully  or  wrongfully,  it  were  vain  to 
inquire.  I  found  them  here  as  slaves,  and  if  one  didn't 
own  them  another  would.  I  had  done  nothing  to  reduce 
them  to  this  condition;  into  their  native  country  I  had 
not  gone,  to  tear  them  away  from  relatives  and  friends, 
and  transplant  them  in  American  soil.  All  this  inhu 
manity  was  performed  before  my  day.  The  iniquity  of 
the  slave  trade  shall  be  fastened  upon  the  right  shoulders 
ere  I  am  done.  Let  the  guilty  party  answer  to  God  and 
the  world  for  this  enormous  outrage,  and  not  those  into 
whose  possession  the  present  generation  of  slaves  has 
fallen. 

"  The  slaveholders  of  this  day  can  hold  up  their  hands 
in  the  sight  of  high  Heaven  and  solemnly  declare  that 
they  have  done  nothing  in  producing  this  condition  in  the 
African  race  —  that  slavery  is  an  entaihnent  from  former 


20  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

times  which  they  cannot  avoid.  By  the  mysterious  work 
ings  of  Providence  this  relation  of  master  and  slave  has 
been  permitted  on  this  western  continent.  Africa  has 
been  despoiled  of  her  children  ;  they  have  been  cast  into 
bondage  among  us,  and  for  what  wise  purpose  the  future 
alone  can  disclose.  That  God  wills  the  happiness  of  all 
his  children,  irrespective  of  colors,  I  firmly  believe ;  and 
that  good  in  the  end  is  to  be  educed  from  slavery  I  feel 
equally  confident — not  only  to  the  one  race,  but  to  both. 

"  I  have  already  extended  rny  observations  too  length 
ily  upon  the  present  occasion.  I  fear,  David,  your 
patience  is  entirely  exhausted." 

"  Dear  uncle,"  replied  David,  "  I  take  a  deep  interest 
in  the  subject  you  have  been  discussing ;  it  is  one  of  mo 
mentous  interest,  involving  in  its  issue  the  permanency 
of  this  mighty  Union :  for  I  am  persuaded  that,  of  all 
subjects,  ABOLITIONISM  is  best  calculated  to  produce  alien 
ation  between  the  North  and  South,  and  finally  disunion. 
I  am,  therefore,  willing  to  listen  patiently  to  whatever 
you  may  think  proper  to  advance  on  this  deeply  interest 
ing  question.  My  studies  and  occupation  have  forbidden 
me  from  giving  so  much  attention  as  you  have  to  Aboli 
tion.  Beside,  my  youth  will  deter  me  from  often  inter 
rupting  your  narrative. 

"  I  am  aware  that  if  the  thread  of  old  people's  ideas 
be  broken,  it  cannot  be  easily  re-united.  Much  valuable 
information  might  thus  be  lost.  I  shall  claim  chiefly  the 
privilege  of  a  listener.  I  set  out  on  my  journy  to  acquire 
knowledge,  and  I  am  happy  that  I  am  now  sitting  under 
your  hospitable  roof.  I  have  no  doubt  a  whole  summer's 
entertainment  I  may  expect  from  your  lips  on  this  excit 
ing  question  of  Abolitionism.  From  your  extensive 
knowledge  of  that  subject,  in  all  its  various  ramifications, 
from  your  having  watched  it  from  its  earliest  germ  to  its 
present  overshadowing  growth,  you  can  portray  its  history 
in  true  and  vivid  colors." 

"  You  place,  David,  an  over-estimate  upon  my  humble 
abilities  to  do  this  subject  anything  like  justice.  I  enter 
upon  it  with  great  distrust.  I  am  actuated  by  a  warm 
zeal  for  a  common  country.  I  cannot  longer  stand  silent, 
and  see  this  dangerous  conspiracy  against  our  liberty — 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  21 

for  as  such  I  consider  it — daily  increasing ;  sustained  too 
by  foreign  influence  and  gold,  without  an.  effort,  however 
feeble,  to  unmask  its  deformities.  Should  the  task  prove 
unsuccessful,  I  shall  still  have  the  consolation  to  think  I 
had  the  manliness  to  warn  the  public  of  the  dangerous 
crisis  approaching  in  our  national  affairs." 


CHAPTER    IV. 

A  continuation  of  the  same  subject. 

"Ax  the  last  interview,  David,"  said  the  'Squire,  "  I 
was  delineating  the  happy  condition  of  the  slave  prior  to 
the  introduction  of  Abolitionism  into  his  bosom.  We 
then  beheld  him  contented  and  happy,  rendering  a  cheer 
ful  obedience  to  the  lawful  commands  of  his  master.  I 
will  now  show  you  how  this  happy  relation  has  been 
destroyed,  and  how  I  have  been  reluctantly  constrained 
to  deprive  myself  of  the  services  of  slaves,  to  which  I 
had  been  used  from  my  childhood.  They  may,  and 
likely  will  fall  into  the  hands  of  worse  and  more  severe 
masters ;  but  the  fault  is  not  mine,  as  I  will  undertake  to 
show.  It  is  chargeable  to  the  disturbing  influence  from 
abroad. 

u  I  shall  have  to  refer  to  matters  anterior  to  this  period. 
Several  years  ago,  I  had  a  relative  who  purposed  emi 
grating  to  Illinois.  He  owned  two  likely  boys,  named 
Jack  and  Joe,  whom  I  was  induced  to  buy — not  because 
I  needed  them,  but  out  of  pure  compassion  to  keep  them 
out  of  the  clutches  of  a  negro  trader  who  was  striving  to 
buy  them.  I  paid  for  them  sixteen  hundred  dollars,  to 
retain  them  in  this  section,  where  I  supposed  slavery  to 
exist  in  its  mildest  form.  They  served  me  a  few  years, 
and  then  made  their  escape  to  Canada. 

"I  resolved  I  would  never  buy  another,  and  those  re 
maining  should  never  tread  foot  on  British  soil  while 
they  were  mine.  I  kept  a  vigilant  eye  on  the  balance, 


22  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

intending,  whenever  I  saw  indications  of  elopement,  I 
would  take  my  own  mode  of  doing  without  them.  I  did 
not  hesitate  to  converse  with  them  freely.  I  told  them 
they  had  a  good  home,  and  as  long  as  they  demeaned 
themselves  properly,  might  remain. 

" l  Now,'  said  I,  c  as  long  as  you  may  continue  faith 
ful  and  true  to  me,  I  will  be  equally  so  to  you.  This 
is  your  home  while  I  live,  if  you  so  desire  it;  but  if  you 
will  have  it  otherwise,  blame  me  not  for  it.  My  word  to 
you  I  hold  sacred  and  inviolate;  I  have  never  deceived, 
nor  do*  I  intend.' 

"  '  That's  true,  Master,'  said  Tom ;  c  when  you  tells  us 
anything,  we  knows  you  won't  wary  from  it.  God  knows 
Jack  and  Joe  went  off  without  dese  niggers  knowing  at 
all  'bout  it.  Howsomever,  if  we  had  found  it  out,  dem 
boys  neber  had  went.  Dat's  God  Almighty's  truth.' 

" '  Now,  Tom,  you  have  been  in  my  family  all  your 
lifetime.  I  have  known  you  from  a  child,  and  you  have 
known  me  from  my  youth  to  the  present  time.  Can  you 
not  confide  in  what  I  say?  I  can  assure  you  no  negro 
can  be  benefited  by  being  sent  to  Canada;  and  why? 
because  he  arrives  there  poor  and  destitute  —  he  has 
nothing,  the  climate  is  extremely  cold,  the  winters  long, 
and  wages  low.  How  can  he  expect  to  live  without 
labor  ?  He  may  find  friends  to  help  him  on  his  way  to 
Canada ;  but  when  he  gets  there,  he  will  have  none. 
Upon  himself  alone  he  must  depend  —  farming  is  the 
only  business  he  understands  or  can  follow,  and  it  will 
be  very  difficult  for  him  to  find  employment  and  live, 
at  that.' 

"  4  Dat  's  God's  blessed  truth,'  said  Tom.  «  We 's  better 
off  in  Kantuck  among  dese  white  folks  as  what  knows 
us.  Dey  knows  us,  and  we  knows  dem ;  but  if  de  poor 
nigger  gits  in  among  dem  strange  white  peoples,  as  doesn't 
know  'em,  den  he 's  got  to  suffer.  Dem  Yankees  lubs 
demselves  very  good,  but  dem  doesn't  care  for  de  poor, 
starving,  freezing  nigger.  Dat's  sure.  We  libs  well 
here — plenty  good  wittels  to  eat,  and  ebryting  to  make  us 
happy.  Den  we  neber  gwine  to  leave  you,  sure.  Dat's 
sarten.' 

u  '  Well,  Tom,  I  hope  this  happy  confidence,  now  exist- 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  23 

ing  between  us,  may  long  continue.  Your  fidelity  will 
impose  upon  me  obligations  I  will  never  disregard.  I  am 
your  friend,  as  long  as  you  continue  mine;  and  your 
labor  I  shall  prefer  to  all  others.' 

"  Since  that  conversation  many  years  have  elapsed. 
Within  a  year  back  I  began  to  notice  a  great  and  material 
change  in  the  demeanor  of  my  slaves.  They  became 
gloomy  and  ill-natured,  difficult  to  govern,  and  were  dis 
posed  to  be  very  insolent.  I  had  long  anticipated  this 
result.  I  knew  it  was  approaching,  for  I  had  closely 
watched  Abolitionism  in  all  the  various  hues  it  had 
assumed.  I  could  discern  it  was  secretly  and  steadily 
invading  the  rights  of  the  South.  Situated  here,  on  the 
borders  of  the  State,  not  far  from  Cincinnati,  we  would 
necessarily  first  feel  the  direful  effects  of  this  fanatical 
spirit. 

"It  had  intruded  itself  in  the  halls  of  Congress,  and 
produced  that  deep  excitement  and  convulsion  that  ter 
minated  in  the  adoption  of  a  series  of  measures  usually 
termed  the  '  Compromise.'  This  adjustment  was  hailed 
by  many  as  a  panacea  for  all  our  political  troubles.  The 
fugitive  slave  law  was  as  stringent  as  the  South  could 
demand  ;  but  in  its  faithful  execution  I  never  had  the 
smallest  confidence  whatever.  Having  traveled  much  in 
the  North,  and  intermingled  freely  with  the  people,  I 
knew  their  feelings  and  prejudices  thoroughly  on  the 
question  of  slavery.  I  was  satisfied,  years  ago,  that 
human  ingenuity  could  not  devise  a  law  that  would  insure 
the  apprehension  and  return  of  fugitive  slaves.  Although 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  declares  in  impera 
tive  language,  that  they  '  shall  be  delivered  up'  upon  the 
claim  of  the  party  to  whom  such  service  or  labor  is  due; 
and  further,  that  no  law  or  regulation  of  a  State  shall 
prevent  it;  yet,  in  utter  defiance  of  this  plain  and  positive 
provision  of  the  Federal  Compact,  slaves  are  continually 
escaping  without  the  possibility,  on  the  part  of  the  owner, 
either  to  find  or  reclaim.  How  shamefully  is  that  sacred 
instrument  —  the  ligament  holding  this  mighty  Union 
together,  composed  of  thirty -one  independent  States  — 
evaded  and  despised.  Here  is  practical  Nullification,  on 
the  part  of  the  North,  of  daily  and  hourly  occurrence, 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

sinking  into  insignificance  all  South  Carolina  ever  threat 
ened  to  do. 

"The  North  is  thus  uniformly  trampling  under  her 
feet  these  solemn  guarantees  of  the  Federal  Constitution, 
without  being  sensible  of  the  great  injustice  she  is  doing 
the  South.  This  owner,  and  that,  is  despoiled  of  his  pro 
perty  by  fanatical  agency — the  fugitive  slaves  are  run  into 
Canada,  and  there  are  men  glorifying  themselves  upon 
the  success  they  have  in  this  illegal  business.  Now,  re 
member  how  we  have  been  treated  in  Boone.  The  fidelity 
of  the  slave  has  been  destroyed  —  distrust  has  taken  the 
place  of  confidence.  The  evil  is  spreading — on  the  right, 
a  slave  escapes  into  Ohio — on  the  left,  a  dozen,  for  some 
slight  offense  or  suspicion,  are  sold  to  go  to  the  cotton- 
fields  of  the  South  ;  thus  the  whole  slave  population 
among  us  is  kept  in  a  state  of  perpetual  anxiety  and 
dread.  They  are  well  apprised  how  sensitive  the  owners 
are,  and  hence  the  escape  of  a  few  is  sure  to  redound  to 
the  damage  of  those  remaining.  Upon  them  the  injury 
falls.  In  this  way  matters  have  been  progressing  for  a 
few  years.  Now  what  is  the  result?  I  will  candidly 
state  to  you  what  has  taken  place  within  my  own 
knowledge. 

"Over  twelve  months  since,  a  neighbor  came  to  mo 
and  stated  his  slave  Charles  and  two  others  had  escaped 
the  night  previous.  He  desired  me  to  go  with  him  in 
pursuit.  I  told  him  I  was  at  his  service — that  he  should 
not  go  alone  —  that  I  would  stand  by  his  side  4  through 
evil  as  well  as  good  report.'  I  felt  anxious  to  test  the 
value  and  efficiency  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law,  and  I  pre 
ferred  having  it  tested  in  his  case  rather  than  one  of  my 
own.  So  we  departed  to  Cincinnati  —  the  point  to  which 
all  our  fugitive  slaves  are  apt  to  go.  On  our  route  we 
ascertained  where  they  had  crossed  the  river,  and  that 
they  had  got  to  the  city. 

"  Soon  we  had  one  who  was  skillful  in  catching  negroes 
busily  at  work.  His  stool-pigeons,  as  he  termed  them, 
were  all  actively  engaged  in  the  hunt.  He  assured  us  if 
they  were  in  the  city,  they  could  not  elude  his  and  his 
spies'  vigilance  —  that  they  should,  ere-long,  be  forth- 
corning.  He  was  frequently  in  communication  with  us — • 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  25 

at  one  time  he  was  on  the  trail — he  could  almost  tell  us 
the  identical  house  in  which  they  lay  concealed.  But  at 
other  times  he  was  apparently  disheartened — the  Aboli 
tionists  being  so  cunning  and  profoundly  secret  in  their 
operations.  For  several  days  we  were  thus  tantalized 
with  intelligence,  sometimes  favorable,  and,  at  others, 
the  reverse.  But  in  the  end  he  finally  and  honestly  con 
fessed  they  had  made  a  complete  escape. 

"  As  you  may  readily  suppose,  I  returned  home,  well 
satisfied  that  there  was  no  security  any  longer  for  that 
species  of  property  in  our  county.  I  candidly  told  my 
friends  that  we  should  soon  be  deprived  of  slave-labor — 
that  the  Abolitionists  had  so  arranged  matters  that,  if 
they  could  once  get  a  slave  in  their  possession  in  Ohio, 
the  owner  would  never  see  or  hear  of  him  more.  Those 
who  professed  to  hunt  fugitive  slaves  in  a  free  State,  had 
given  up  the  job  in  despair,  or  at  least,  were  entirely  pow 
erless  to  do  us  any  service — that  it  was  a  delusion' — the 
veriest  delusion  in  the  world,  to  expect  to  re-capture 
them,  or  to  hold  them  much  longer  here  on  the  borders 
in  bondage.  I  was  convinced  we  had  to  be  deprived  of 
them — willing  or  unwilling — convenient  or  inconvenient. 

"But  I  was  slow  to  act — I  felt  inclined  to  retain  my 
slaves  so  long  as  any  hope  remained.  The  question, 
however,  seemed  to  me  to  be  narrowed  down  to  one  soli 
tary  point,  and  that  was,  in  what  manner  was  this  sepa 
ration  to  take  place  ?  Must  I  lie  dormant  and  wait  for 
the  Abolitionists  to  entice  them  away,  and  run  them  into 
Canada,  beyond  the  power  and  jurisdiction  of  the  United 
States — or  had  I  not  better  adopt  my  own  time  and 
method  of  doing  it  ? 

"  The  latter  alternative  I  decidedly  preferred.  After 
the  occurrence  to  which  I  have  alluded,  I  suffered  a  year 
or  more  to  expire — watching,  with  intense  anxiety,  the 
progress  of  events.  I  was  resolved  not  to  act  with  the 
least  precipitation.  For  those  poor  creatures,  \vhom  Pro 
vidence  had  made  dependent  upon  me,  I  must  confess,  I 
felt  a  strong  attachment.  I  thought  to  myself,  here,  alas  ! 
are  boys  and  girls  I  have  reared  from  their  infancy — born 
on  my  premises — here,  also,  are  old  men  and  women, 
hitherto  faithful  and  true  servants,  who  have  descended 
3 


26  ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED. 

to  myself  and  wife  from  our  ancestors — must  I,  in  the 
decline  of  life,  be  deprived  of  their  services?  If  so,  I 
must  do  it  in  my  own  way — not  wait  for  the  vile  artifices 
of  the  Abolitionists  to  produce  the  same  result. 

"  Many  events  abroad  and  at  home,  opened  the  way 
for  the  act,  the  causes  of  which  I  am  detailing.  The  riot 
in  Boston  —  the  open  resistance  to  the  United  States 
authorities  in  that  city,  in  their  efforts  to  execute  the  Fugi 
tive  Slave  Law — showed  the  South  to  have  no  security 
for  their  slave-property.  But  the  tragical  affair  in  Penn 
sylvania  transcended  in  atrocity  everything  of  the  kind 
upon  record — I  mean  the  murder  of  Gorsuch,  near  Chris 
tiana.  I  shall  be  bound  to  relate  the  mournful  incidents 
connected  with  this  revolting  tragedy,  from  memory. 
According  to  my  best  recollection  the  history  of  the  case 
is  this :  Gorsuch  was  a  citizen  of  Maryland,  and  lost  sev 
eral  slaves  who  eloped  to  Pennsylvania.  I  have  seen  it 
stated,  though  I  cannot  vouch  for  its  verity,  that  they 
wrote  home  to  their  master  where  they  were,  and  re 
quested  him  to  come  for  them.  Be  this  as  it  may,  he  and 
son  started  for  the  purpose  of  re-capture.  Arriving  in 
Philadelphia,  he  adopts  legal  measures  for  the  recovery  of 
his  slaves.  Accompanied  by  the  United  States  marshal 
and  a  police  officer,  they  departed  for  Christiana,  where, 
he  was  informed,  his  fugitive  slaves  resided.  In  the  even 
ing  the  party  stopped  for  the  night  within  a  few  miles  of 
that  place.  Early  next  morning  they  went  on,  and  within 
a  short  distance  of  the  town,  they  were  waylaid,  and  old 
Mr.  Gorsuch  was  shot  down  and  his  son  wounded,  by  a 
mob  in  ambush.  The  officers  fled  and  made  their  escape 
without  injury.  The  mob  then  rushed  up,  and  beat,  with 
clubs,  the  head  of  old  Gorsuch,  to  satiate  their  dire 
revenge. 

"  Now  let  me  ask,  what  this  good  old  man — for  he  was 
represented  as  very  pious,  and  extremely  kind  to  his 
slaves — had  done  to  merit  such  a  horrible  fate.  He  had 
punctually  obeyed  all  the  requirements  of  the  laws. 
Amply  clothed  with  Federal  authority,  and  in  company 
of  a  marshal,  he  and  his  party  were  proceeding  peaceably 
to  claim  the  delivery  up  of  those  who  owed  him  service 
or  labor.  This  was  his  right,  legally  secured,  and  for 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  27 

daring  to  exercise  it  how  awful  the  consequence!  Shot 
down  like  a  highway  robber  or  pirate  without  a  moment's 
warning!  Thus  fell  one,  whose  'head  was  silvered  o'er 
with  age,'  by  a  mob  of  Abolitionists  and 'free  negroes — 
not  for  any  crime  he  had  ever  committed  or  contemplated, 
but  in  the  pursuit  of  lawful  business." 

"Permit  me,  uncle,  to  interrupt  you  for  a  moment. 
Have  not  all  these  cruel  wretches  been  punished  in  the 
most  exemplary  manner,  either  by  the  United  States  laws, 
or  those  of  Pennsylvania,  for  so  bloody  and  daring  an  out 
rage  ?  Surely  the  perpetrators  of  this  foul  deed  have  not 
escaped  with  impunity !  " 

"Ah,  David!  there  is  the  great  ground  of  complaint. 
Crimes  cannot  be  entirely  suppressed  by  the  most  san 
guinary  laws.  Violations  of  the  laws  will  often  happen, 
which  no  foresight  can  prevent.  It  is  but  too  true,  for 
crimes  of  so  deep  a  dye,  there  ought  to  be  inflicted  con 
dign  punishment.  But  in  this  instance  it  seems  no  law 
was  violated — no  penalty  was  incurred.  It  happened  not 
to  be  constructive  treason  by  the  Federal  Laws,  nor  mur 
der  by  the  statutes  of  Pennsylvania.  Hence  you  can  but 
notice,  the  murder  of  a  slave-holder  is  different  from  all 
other  crimes  in  the  world.  Had  MOSES  lived  in  our  day, 
I  think  he  would  modify  his  law  so  as  to  make  it  read: 
'Whoso  sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be 
shed,'  except  he  kills  a  slave-hunter.  For  it  is  manifest, 
if  a  man  in  pursuit  of  his  fugitive  slave  be  shot  down,  it  is 
held  to  be  no  crime  at  all.  He  is  the  only  human  being 
that  may  be  killed  at  pleasure,  and  with  entire  impunity. 
Why  1  the  vilest  criminal  that  walks  on  the  face  of  the 
earth,  must  not  be  destroyed  without  a  fair  and  legal 
trial — such  outlawry  cannot  be  tolerated  in  this  human 
ized  age.  Even  Cain,  who  slew  Abel,  his  brother — though 
he  was  made  a  fugitive  and  vagabond,  and  cried,  in  the 
anguish  of  his  heart,  'that  every  one  that  iindeth  me  shall 
slay  me,'  what  did  the  Lord  say  in  reply:  'Therefore 
whosoever  slayeth  Cain,  vengeance  shall  be  taken  of  him 
sevenfold.'  'And  the  Lord  set  a  mark  upon  Cain,  lest 
any  one  finding  him  should  kill  him.'  What  had  GORSUCH 
done — against  him  was  any  one's  '  blood  crying  from  the 
ground?'  None,  whatever.  With  conscious  innocence, 


28  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

this  pious  old  man,  with  benevolence  beaming  in  his 
countenance,  and  under  the  aegis  of  the  Federal  Union, 
goes  forth  to  obtain  possession  of  his  fugitive  slaves,  in 
the  land  of  peaceful  habits,  and  among  Christian  people — 
citizens  of  a  common  country;  and  there  falls,  by  the 
hands  of  a  desperate  mob,  without  a  moment's  warning, 
or  any  chance  for  defense.  Of  those  engaged  in  this 
horrid  tragedy,  not  a  hair  of  their  heads  has  ever  suf 
fered. 

"  So  far  from  it,  some  of  the  Abolitionists  have  said, 
if  his  own  slaves  chose  to  murder  their  master,  what  is 
that  to  them  ?  What  evidence  is  there,  that  even  this  is 
the  fact?  None  that  I  have  ever  seen.  The  whole  is 
imaginary.  Gorsuch  and  party  stopped  for  the  night  near 
Christiana.  Next  morning  early,  they  intended  going 
into  the  town  where  his  slaves  were  supposed  to  be.  But 
it  appears  intelligence  was  conveyed  to  them  and  their 
friends,  that  night,  of  the  contemplated  arrest.  An  am 
buscade  was  formed,  and  the  party  approached  uriap- 
prized  of  this  fact,  until  the  discharge  of  fire-arms  from 
each  side  of  the  road,  announced  to  them  the  imminent 
peril  by  which  they  were  surrounded.  These  are  the 
facts  of  the  case,  as  they  have  been  impressed  upon  my 
memory . 

"  Do  they  not  constitute  murder  in  the  first  degree? 
The  mob,  with  coolness  and  full  deliberation,  form  them 
selves  into  a  company  for  the  purpose  of  killing  Gorsuch. 
They  quietly  rest  in  ambush,  watching  the  approach  of 
their  intended  victim.  With  malice  prepense,  they  per 
form  the  diabolical  act.  No  sudden  impulse  of  passion, 
or  great  provocation,  induced  the  commission  of  this 
crime.  In  the  coolness  of  the  night — in  the  freshness  of 
morning — they  concoct  their  plan,  and  fall  upon  an  old, 
harmless,  defenseless  man.  The  whole  mob  were  prin 
cipals  in  this  crime;  they  were  all  acting  together,  and 
all  equally  guilty.  Even  admitting  his  slaves  were 
there,  and  performed  this  dreadful  deed,  that  does  riot 
exonerate  others  who  were  present — aiding  and  abet 
ting — they  are  criminal  in  equal  degree. 

u  But  suppose  his  slaves  alone  were  guilty  of  so  out 
rageous  a  murder,  by  what  code  of  laws  can  they  be 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  29 

acquitted  ?  how  stand  innocent  of  crime  ?  How  can  so 
barbarous  an  act  be  construed  into  justifiable  or  excusa 
ble  homicide  ?  Would  not  the  sensibility  of  mankind  be 
shocked,  if,  by  legislative  enactment,  any  state  should 
proclaim  to  the  world  that  a  fugitive  slave  who  should 
turn  upon  his  pursuing  owner  or  agent,  and  slay  him, 
should  not  only  be  justified  and  excused,  but  should  be 
honored  and  glorified  as  a  hero?  An  Abolition  member 
of  Congress  defended  this  heinous  murder  upon  that  very 
ground.  Oh !  everlasting  shame  upon  such  morality ! 
upon  such  a  perversion  of  all  the  well-known  and  estab 
lished  principles  of  the  law !  Of  all  the  cases  enu 
merated  in  the  law  books,  of  justifiable  or  excusable 
homicide,  this  one  has  never  been  mentioned  ;  and  it  was 
reserved  for  this  progressive  age  to  make  the  discovery. 

"The  effects  of  the  decision  in  this  case,  made  by  the 
Federal  and  State  Courts,  will  be  a  general  license  to  all 
persons  who  choose  to  slay  at  will  slave-holders  who 
shall  venture  to  reclaim  their  fugitive  slaves  in  any  free 
state  of  this  Union  !  What  will  the  south  think  of  such 
announcement  ?  What  will  be  the  worth  of  their  Con 
stitutional  rights  ?  A  mere  mockery.  Our  slaves  are 
enticed  away — aided  and  assisted  by  these  wicked  Abo 
litionists — and  death  is  the  penalty,  if  the  owner  should 
pursue.  Thus  are  we  made  outlaws  in  all  the  free  states 
of  the  Union.  When  I  learned  the  result  of  these  trials  at 
Christiana,  I  came  to  the  firm  determination  of  not  own 
ing  any  slaves,  who  could,  in  a  few  hours,  be  in  the  state 
of  Ohio,  where  I  could  not  pursue  them  without  the  for 
feiture  of  my  life.  If,  by  that  determination,  my  slaves 
have  suffered — it  is  no  fault  of  mine — but  of  their  offi 
cious  and  crazy  friends  on  the  other  side  of  the  river." 

"  I  have  participated,  uncle,  in  your  excitement.  I 
feel,  as  you  do,  deep  exasperation  for  the  murder  of  Gor- 
such,  for  not  only  Maryland,  but  the  whole  slaveholding 
region  should  feel  outraged  by  the  decisions  in  this  case. 
I  scarcely  know  how  to  believe  your  narrative  ;  I  fain 
hope  some  mitigating  circumstance  has  escaped  your  ob 
servation,  or  eluded  your  memory,  that  a  more  thorough 
investigation  may  develop.  With  your  general  accuracy, 
I  am  greatly  pleased.  Whatever  you  assert,  is  entitled  to 


30  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

much  confidence,  for  I  know  you  too  well  to  suppose,  for 
a  moment,  you  would  willfully  pervert  the  truth.  These 
serious  charges  against  the  Abolition  party  sound  very 
strangely  to  my  inexperienced  ears.  But,  as  you  seem 
exhausted  at  this  time  from  your  exertions,  we  will  -let 
the  subject  rest  for  the  present." 


CHAPTER    Y. 

The  same  subject  continued — The  plan  of  the  Work  defined. 

"THE  mind,  David,-5  said  the  'Squire,  "though  of  a 
spiritual  nature,  yet,  like  the  body,  it  needs  repose,  and 
cannot,  sustain  long-continued  action.  At  our  last  con 
versation,  this  fact  was  demonstrated .  By  relaxation  I 
come  now  prepared  to  continue  the  topic  that  has  en 
gaged  our  time  for  several  days.  I  have  been  detailing 
to  you  the  various  causes  which  have  constrained  me  to 
send  my  slaves  south.  In  relating  the  tragical  end  of 
Gorsuch,  you  do  me  but  justice  in  supposing  I  am  gov 
erned  entirely  by  the  truth.  That,  in  all  my  remarks,  shall 
be  my  polar  star.  In  discussing  so  delicate  a  subject  as 
slavery,  involving,  as  it  does,  the  destiny  of  this  glorious 
Union,  we  should  not  indulge  either  in  manifest  misrep 
resentation  or  in  fiction.  In  the  North  there  is  a  sickly 
'sentimentality  on  this  subject,  plainly  visible,  to  which 
too  many  are  disposed  to  pander.  Any  publication  in 
abuse  of  Slavery,  however  unfair  and  ridiculous,  is 
caught  up  and  read  with  avidity  truly  astonishing.  The 
pictures  usually  drawn  of  slavery  are  over-colored  and 
scandalous.  All  the  rules  of  fair  reasoning  have  been 
perverted.  From  particular  instances,  general  principles 
are  established,  which  is  both  illogical  and  unjust.  To 
resort  to  such  a  false  mode  of  argument  on  any  other  sub 
ject,  the  common  sense  of  mankind  would  disdain.  The 
system  of  slavery  in  the  United  States,  as  it  really  exists, 
is  not  known  at  all  at  the  North.  Those  who  have  under- 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  31 

taken  to  describe  it,  derived  their  information  from  others 
who  designedly  deceive,  and  who  know  nothing  person 
ally  of  its  nature.  The  time  has  come  for  the  public 
mind  to  be  disabused :  it  shall  be  my  aim  to  delineate 
slavery  in  its  proper  colors,  as  well  as  the  origin,  pro 
gress,  and  pernicious  tendency  of  Abolitionism.  But 
these  matters  will  all  be  attended  to  in  proper  order. 

"  On  the  murder  of  Gorsuch,  I  must  be  allowed  to 
make  a  few  more  remarks.  Some  Abolitionists  have  jus 
tified  it  on  the  ground,  that  it  was  done  by  his  own  slaves. 
If  this  were  true,  it  is  still  a  great  crime.  Must  slaves  be 
permitted  to  murder  their  owners  in  cold  blood — to  way 
lay  the  road,  and  shoot  them  down  with  malice  afore 
thought?  What  constitutes  murder  in  the  first  degree,  in 
every  other  case,  only  makes  the  slave  a  hero  in  this. 
The  law  is  said  to  be  the  perfection  of  human  reason. 
One  of  its  settled  principles  is,  that  nothing  will  justify 
taking  human  life,  but  self-defense,  or  the  authority  of  the 
law.  Will  it  do  to  invite  slaves  to  kill  their  owners  by 
promising  them  protection  and  applause?  No  state  in 
the  Union  would  suffer  such  a  law  to  be  enacted,  and  yet 
such  will  be  the  consequences  flowing  from  the  decision 
in  the  case  of  Gorsuch.  The  laws  of  Kentucky  make  no 
distinction  in  the  murder  of  a  white  or  black  person : 
both  are  placed  on  the  same  footing. 

"  Pennsylvania,  in  this  instance,  has  acted  in  deroga 
tion  of  her  constitutional  obligations  ;  she  has  shown  her 
self  wanting  in  comity  to  her  sister  states,  and  the  pre 
cedent,  if  not  promptly  rebuked,  will  be  fraught  with 
imminent  danger.  What  folly  to  assure  the  slaveholder 
that,  in  every  state  of  the  Union,  he  has  a  right  to  claim 
those  who  owe  him  service  or  labor,  and  require  them  to 
be  delivered  up  to  him.  if,  at  the  same  time,  the  laws  will 
afford  him  no  protection  in  the  pursuit  and  recapture ! 
The  one  without  the  other,  would  be  a  species  of  treachery 
too  base  to  contemplate.  What  is  the  language  now? 
i  Here  are  your  slaves — we  have  enticed  them  away — it 
is  true,  the  Constitution  says  we  shall  deliver  them  up; 
but  if  you  come  among  us  to  assert  your  claim,  we  will 
imbrue  our  hands  in  your  blood,  and  your  life  shall  be 
the  penalty.' 


32  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"  It  is  in  this  sense  I  understood  the  decision  of  the 
case  with  respect  to  the  Christiana  rioters.  It  made  a 
deep  impression  upon  my  mind,  and  turned  the  scale  in 
favor  of  shipping  South.  There  were  other  circumstances 
occurring  all  along  the  Ohio  river ;  not  only  in  Boone,  but 
in  all  the  border  counties,  that  tended  to  hasten  the  event. 
Every  mail  brought  us  accounts  of  elopements  from 
Mason  and  Bracken,  and  other  counties  above,  until  at 
last  it  reached  our  immediate  section.  A  company  of  ten 
from  Burlington  this  week — from  Petersburg  the  next — 
all  made  successful  escapes.  The  fatal  moment  for  action 
had  come — distressing  to  my  slaves,  and  grievous  to  me. 
Longer  postponement  would  be  unsafe.  The  resolution 
was  formed  and  executed. 

"  I  need  not  say  it  was  a  trying  scene — their  agony  was 
indescribable.  I  told  them  I  deplored  the  necessity  which 
had  driven  me  to  this  act — that  the  blame  should  fall  upon 
their  officious  friends  in  Ohio,  who  had,  for  years,  been 
preparing  the  way  for  this  great  calamity  to  them — for 
great  it  seemed  to  be.  But,  continued  I,  I  have  discerned 
you  are  greatly  dissatisfied — that  you  are  tired  of  your 
home — that  you  think  it  a  great  hardship  to  labor  for  me 
any  more — that  you  are  preparing  to  abandon  me  at  my 
advanced  age,  and  leave  me  here  without  assistance,  to 
struggle  on  as  best  I  can.  I  am  satisfied  a  separation  must 
take  place  between  us.  You  despise  me  and  my  family, 
preferring  a  settlement  among  strangers — among  those  who 
are  aliens — enemies  to  this  free  country.  I  cannot  indulge 
you  in  this  respect.  When  Jack  and  Joe  left  me,  I  re 
solved  not  another  slave  of  mine  should  ever  tread  foot 
on  ''British  Soil.''  That  resolution  shall  be  kept  to  the 
letter ; — you  all  this  day  have  to  depart  South. 

"Now,  to  this  complexion  matters  came  at  last.  How 
far  am  I  to  blame  ?  I  preferred  their  labor — gave  them 
up  with  pain,  and  reluctance.  I  had  aimed  to  be  kind 
and  humane.  1  was  not  sensible  of  any  change  in  my 
treatment  to  them.  I  saw  plainly,  I  had  to  do  without 
their  services,  and  the  only  question  for  me  to  decide  was, 
who  should  take  the  initiative.  Being  unwilling  to  let 
them,  at  the  instigation  of  others,  elope  to  parts  unknown, 
I  resolved  to  convert  them  into  cash. 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  33 

"  I  considered  their  own  conduct  had  absolved  me  from 
every  obligation  to  consult  their  feelings  and  wishes  in 
regard  to  the  disposition  I  should  make  of  them.  They 
did  not  intend  to  ask  my  consent  to  their  escape  North. 
Tjjp0r  cared  not  for  my  happiness,  or  interest.  In  my  view 
slavery  imposes  reciprocal  obligations;  on  the  part  of  the 
slave,  obedience  and  fidelity — on  the  part  of  the  master,  kind 
ness  and  protection.  I  feel  myself,  therefore,  at  perfect 
liberty,  whenever  a  slave  evinces  a  desire  to  run  away,  to 
make  a  sale  of  him  to  any  one  I  choose.  But  the  case  is 
very  different  where  one  remains  faithful  and  true ;  for 
him  I  would  always,  if  constrained  to  sell,  procure  a  good 
master. 

"There  is  a  great  difference  made  in  this  respect — a 
difference  founded  in  the  best  of  reasons — mutual  affec 
tion — a  mutual  confidence.  But  these  times  are  past. 
Distrust  reigns  in  the  bosom  of  servant  and  master — it 
has  rooted  out  those  goodly  feelings,  that  once  predomi 
nated.  And  how  has  this  been  produced?  Not  by  the 
acts  of  the  owner,  but,  by  foreign  interference.  Since  the 
Abolitionists  have  espoused  the  cause  of  the  negro,  and 
given  to  him  their  pretended  sympathy,  have  all  these 
evils  been  produced. 

"From  the  borders  of  Kentucky,  have  their  ill-starred 
kindness,  forced  the  negroes  in  droves  to  the  South.  Not 
that  slave-holders  wished  thus  to  act,  but,  because  of  the 
great  insecurity  of  that  species  of  property  in  this  section. 
It  is  of  great  value,  and  the  owners  will  not  give  it  up  very 
readily,  as  might  have  been  expectecl. 

"By  what  tenure  is  it  held  ?  Slaves  are  made  property 
by  the  Constitution,  and  laws  of  the  state.  They  are 
bought  and  sold — liable  to  execution  for  debt — descend 
as  inheritance  to  heirs.  Our  laws  guard  this  species 
of  property,  with  the  utmost  vigilance,  making  it 
a  penitentiary  offense  to  tamper  with,  or  entice  them 
away. 

"Hence  it  is  apparent,  I  held  slaves  in  conformity  to  the 
laws  of  my  state.  They  were  my  property,  to  all  intents 
and  purposes.  But,  notwithstanding  all  these  facts, 
Abolitionism  must  intrude  itself  into  our  domestic  con 
cerns,  and  produce  those  woes  1  have  named.  It  came 


34  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

professedly  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  the  slave,  and 
soften  the  rigors  of  bondage.  But  instead  of  these  it  has 
driven  him  to  the  cotton-fields  of  the  South,  and  the 
sugar  plantations,  where  his  fate  is  more  intolerable, 
and  where  their  voice  and  wailing  in  his  behalf  can  never 
reach.  He  is  gone  far  beyond  their  influence — hid  in  the 
deep  recesses  of  the  South.  They  may  indeed,  send  their 
emissaries  along  the  borders  of  our  state,  to  tamper  with 
slaves;  but  their  efforts  will  do  more  injury  than  good ; 
for  every  one  they  can  run  into  Canada,  a  dozen  will  find 
themselves  transported  to  a  southern  market. 

44 1  am  aware  of  what  holy  horror  these  Abolitionists 
have  to  the  slave-trade,  between  the  states,  while  in 
reality  they  are  furnishing  the  aliment  to  keep  it  alive. 
By  operating  on  the  border  state,  they  force  this  increas 
ing  current  of  slaves  South.  While  they  are  thus  doing  most 
all  the  mischief,  they  are  shedding  crocodile  tears  over 
the  victims  they  have  injured." 

44  Allow  me  to  state,  uncle,  that  these  Abolitionists  re 
semble  Don  Quixote,  which  I  read  a  few  years  since  in 
College.  He,  with  his  trusty  'squire,  Sancho  Panza, 
started  out  in  the  world  to  right  all  the  evils  which  might 
happen  to  come  to  his  knowledge,  but,  it  so  happened,  in 
the  aggregate,  that  this  renowned  knight,  committed  in 
finitely  more  evil  than  good.  He  was  governed  in  his 
adventures  by  a  bold  and  crazy  zeal — he  never  halted  to 
reason  or  seek  information,  but  rushed  into  combat  and 
dangers,  with  perfect  madness.  The  manacles  were  cut 
loose  from  the  vilest  criminals,  who  were  released  from 
confinement,  and  sent  abroad  to  commit  fresh  depreda 
tions.  But,  perhaps  you  are  not  ready  at  present  to  enter 
upon  Abolitionism  in  a  regular  way." 

44 1  was  merely  detailing  the  causes,  David,  which  have 
constrained  me  to  send  off  my  slaves.  I  am  about  done 
with  all  I  deem  it  proper,  at  this  time,  to  state  in  relation 
to  that  matter.  I  have  an  idea  to  pursue  the  following 
method  in  our  future  inquiries  : 

44  First.  The  condition  of  the  negro  morally,  socially, 
and  politically  in  his  native  country. 

44  Secondly.  By  what  means,  and  through  whose  agency 
he  was  landed  on  our  shores. 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  35 

"Thirdly.  The  origin,  progress,  and  pernicious  ten 
dency  of  Abolitionism. 

"  Before  I  entered  upon  the  main  objects  of  this  work, 
I  considered  it  necessary  to  explain  the  motives  by  which  I 
was  governed  in  dispensing  with  slave  labor.  I  have  frankly 
stated  them  all.  If  I  have  erred  in  this  act,  or  it  savors 
of  needless  severity,  I  cannot  help  it.  I  may  be  peculiar 
in  my  notions  ;  but  where  I  have  legal  rights  recognized 
both  by  the  State  and  Federal  Constitution,  such  is  my 
disposition  that  I  cannot  suffer  them  to  be  invaded  and 
destroyed  peaceably.  I  could  not  remain  idle  and  inac 
tive,  and  wait  for  the  Abolitionists  to  entice  away  my 
slaves,  and  send  them  beyond  my  control.  The  subjects 
of  Queen  Victoria,  some  of  them  at  any  rate,  have  been 
enriched  by  the  slave-trade,  which  I  shall  aim  to  show; 
arid  I  will  not,  for  one,  now  the  negroes  have  become 
civilized  and  have  been  instructed  in  agriculture,  deli 
ver  them  over  to  her  Canadian  Provinces, k  without  money 
and  without  price.'  I  have,  in  my  composition,  too  much 
of  the  old  stubborn  Saxon  blood  for  that.  But  I  shall 
have  occasion,  in  the  progress  of  our  inquiries,  to  allude 
more  fully  to  these  points/' 

u  I  am  delighted,  uncle,  with  the  field  you  have  opened 
for  investigation.  As  slavery  in  the  United  States  has 
engrossed  the  attention  of  philanthropists  throughout  the 
world,  it  must  and  will  be  vastly  interesting.  From  some 
cause  or  another,  it  is  convulsing  this  Union  from  its 
center  to  its  circumference.  The  excitement  in  relation 
to  it,  is  annually  growing  deeper  and  deeper.  Beyond 
doubt,  it  is  the  most  dangerous  question  now  agitating  the 
public  mind  in  this  great  confederacy  of  States,  and  before 
it  all  other  political  questions  have  sunk  into  total  insig 
nificance.  How  appropriate,  therefore,  to  go  into  Africa 
to  look  at  the  condition  of  her  people  in  their  moral, 
social,  and  political  relations — to  examine  them  in  these 
respects,  in  their  native  wilds  and  domestic  simplicity — 
to  trace  the  slave  trade  in  its  origin  and  progress,  and 
to  expose  to  the  world  the  real  authors  of  this  inhuman 
traffic.  This  will  be  one  side  of  the  picture.  Then  on 
the  other  hand,  Abolitionism  must  undergo  a  severe 
scrutiny  —  its  origin,  progress,  and  pernicious  tendency 


36  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

should  be  fully  developed.  This  will  complete  the 
picture. 

u  By  these  means  the  reader  will  be  enabled  to  trace 
these  children  of  Africa  in  their  transportation  to  these 
shores ;  he  will  see  how  it  all  happened — what  nation 
monopolized  this  horrid  trade  and  grew  rich  upon  the 
groans  and  tears  of  these  simple  creatures.  By  turning 
to  the  other  side,  he  can  trace  the  finger  that  is  stirring 
up  all  this  strife  and  irritation  among  the  States  of  this 
Union.  He  cannot  fail  to  see  how  such  great  prominence 
has  been  given  to  three  millions  of  Africans  in  bondage. 

"  The  deep  interest  manifested  in  favor  of  these  slaves 
in  certain  quarters,  forms  one  of  the  strangest  features  in 
the  history  of  the  times.  But  when  the  veil  is  torn  off— 
when  those  who  have  been  working  the  wires  can  be 
seen  and  known,  the  whole  mystery  will  vanish.  It  is 
time  all  these  things  were  brought  to  light,  and  the  coun 
try  warned  of  its  danger." 

"  I  can  truly  say,  David,  I  feel  my  inability  to  do  jus 
tice  to  the  great  subject  I  have  proposed — -a  subject  in 
which  this  whole  Union  is  looking  on  with  the  most  pain 
ful  anxiety.  The  South  has  seen,  with  utter  amazement, 
this  wicked  crusade  against  slavery,  growing  and  spread 
ing  in  the  North,  until  it  overshadows  the  whole  land. 
The  wire-workers  have  dexterously  kept  their  hands  in 
the  dark,  thereby  deluding  many  honest  and  well-mean 
ing  people  into  the  support  of  Abolitionism,  which,  they 
were  taught  to  believe  was  an  innocent,  harmless  thing — 
only  an  appeal  to  the  consciences  of  slave-holders,  thereby 
seeking  to  open  the  way  for  the  gradual  extinction  of 
slavery.  But  if,  instead  of  its  mission  being  of  a  peace 
ful  character,  solely  intended  for  the  emancipation  of  the 
blacks,  it  shall  turn  out  to  be  a  conspiracy  against  the 
peace,  tranquillity,  and  permanency  of  this  Union,  the 
very  discovery  might  possibly  prevent  the  catastrophe." 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  37 

CHAPTEE    VI. 

Africa — Its  inhabitants — Their  manners  and  customs. 

"  IN  studying  the  condition  of  man  in  every  age  and 
nation,  David,  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  all  in  the 
possession  and  enjoyment  of  those  inalienable  rights  for 
which  so  bitter  a  contest  is  waged  in  our  day.  From 
various  causes,  great  inequality  has  always  existed  among 
the  human  family.  Although,  in  theory,  this  abstract  pro 
position  may  be  very  attractive,  ;  that  all  mankind  are 
born  equal,  and  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain 
inalienable  rights — that  among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and 
the  pursuit  of  happiness  ;'  yet,  nowhert,  I  say  it  emphati 
cally,  is  it  practically  observed  or  regarded.  We  must 
deal  with  things  as  they  exist,  not  as  our  vain  and  wild 
imaginations  would  have  them.  Go  into  Asia,  Europe, 
Africa,  wherever  you  please,  you  will  find  some  rich, 
many  poor — a  few  born  to  rule,  the  masses  to  obey.  Where 
shall  we  find  a  beautiful  exemplification  of  this  glorious 
abstraction  that  has  been  made  the  idol  of  Abolitionism? 
Not  in  Africa,  for,  of  all  the  earth,  that  is  the  most  de 
based  and  enslaved." 

"  It  seems  to  me,  uncle,  that  in  discussing  the  question 
of  slavery,  its  guilt  or  innocence  depends  much  upon  the 
previous  condition  of  the  race  enslaved.  If  it  should  be 
ascertained,  upon  investigation,  that  the  negro,  by  his 
transfer  to  the  United  States,  has  only  changed  masters, 
this  fact,  I  am  persuaded,  would  mitigate  the  evil  in  the 
estimation  of  every  unprejudiced  mind." 

"That  was  the  point,  David,  I  intended  to  make.  I 
was  going  to  carry  the  war  into  Africa.  It  is  time  this 
whole  question  was  elucidated.  Deep  interest,  great 
sympathy  is  manifested  for  the  negro.  Heaven  and 
earth  appear  to  be  moved  for  his  enfranchisement.  I 
want  to  paint  the  negro  in  his  native  land  —  to  look  at 
him  there  as  described  by  history;  and  then  unfold,  ac 
cording  to  the  best  light  afforded,  how  and  by  what 
means  he  was  transported  to  America.  In  this  manner 


38  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

we  shall  see  the  nature  of  the  crime  charged  to  be  com 
mitted,  and  the  guilty  parties  in  the  transaction. 

"  ISTow,  what  is  Africa,  and  who  are  her  children,  that 
all  Christendom  should  espouse  their  cause?  Is  there 
anything  great  and  glorious  in  their  history  ?  I  do  not 
mean  Egypt,  Carthage,  or  that  portion  of  Africa  border 
ing  on  the  Mediterranean  sea ;  but  Negroland  —  the 
region  spreading  out  in  the  torrid  zone,  the  peculiar  abode 
of  the  black  race.  What  do  we  behold  ?  A  people  gov 
erned  by  petty  kings,  waging  interminable  wars  with  each 
other.  Where  are  those  inalienable  rights  for  which  we 
hear  so  great  a  clamor  ?  Liberty  was  never  known  in 
that  benighted  land.  Undisturbed  despotism  there  holds 
her  silent  and  iron  reign.  Laws  are  unknown  —  the 
supreme  and  uncontrolled  will  of  one  man  governs  all  — 
life  and  death  depend  upon  his  arbitrary  nod.  What  is 
that  but  slavery  universal  ?  So  far  as  this  is  concerned, 
there  is  equality.  Does  it  stop  here  ?  No  indeed. 
Slavery,  hereditary  slavery,  exists.  Two  thirds  of  the 
negroes  are  in  absolute  bondage  in  their  own  country. 
What  a  commentary !" 

"  Why,  uncle,  you  astonish  me.  Can  it  be  possible 
that  the  groans  of  the  teeming  millions  in  Africa,  have 
never  roused  the  tender  sympathies  of  the  Abolitionists 
of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  ?  Here,  indeed, 
spreads  out  a  vast  field  for  their  benevolent  exertions.  I 
was  going  to  say,  by  the  time  they  regenerated  Africa, 
restored  to  all  their  inalienable  rights,  we,  in  the  South, 
would  be  prepared  to  hear  their  appeal." 

"  Very  well,  David,  if  you  could  strike  such  a  bargain 
with  these  modern  knights-errant,  the  South,  beyond 
doubt,  would  enjoy  a  long  repose.  What,  indeed,  are 
three  millions  in  this  country  compared  to  the  vast  multi 
tude  left  behind  ?  The  redemption  of  Africa  would  be  a 
grand  achievement.  Although  the  slavery  there  is  far 
more  intolerable  —  the  trembling  slave  approaches  his 
master  on  his  hands  and  knees,  with  his  face  bowed  to 
the  dust,  because  it  would  be  death  to  stand  in  an  erect 
posture  before  him,  and  he  thus  receives  his  commands — 
yet  that  great  continent  lies  entirely  neglected.  What 
owner  in  our  country  ever  ruled  with  such  tyranny  2" 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  39 

C'I  can  say,  uncle,  not  one.  Compared  to  that  in 
Africa,  slavery  is  freedom  in  our  country.  How  fortunate 
are  those  who  have  reached  our  shores,  in  being  delivered 
from  such  an  abominable  country.  Here  they  are  placed 
among  kind  and  civilized  people.  I  grant,  they  are  still 
in  bondage — their  strange  inheritance  either  at  home  or 
abroad." 

"  The  inattention  to  this  fact,  David,  is  the  cause  of 
much  needless  sympathy.  We  are  not  the  authors  of 
slavery  —  it  was  transmitted  to  us  by  Africa  herself. 
There  it  originated,  there  it  is  perpetuated  —  the  branch 
in  the  United  States  is  but  a  small  slip  from  the  parent 
stock. 

"  They  have  many  devices  in  Africa  to  make  slaves  of 
each  other.  For  every  petty  theft  or  transgression,  the 
offender  is  sold  as  a  slave.  "The  prisoners  taken  in  war 
are  converted  into  slaves,  if  not  murdered  in  cool  blood. 
Thus  the  system  is  replenished  and  sustained,  until  two- 
thirds,  as  before  stated,  are  absolute  slaves.  Truly,  then, 
1  it  is  a  matter  of  no  great  consequence  what  country  the}r 
water  with  their  sweat  and  tears.' 

u  Many  of  the  nations  of  Africa  were  cannibals,  sus 
taining  life  by  devouring  each  other.  "What  a  horrible 
practice  !  how  repulsive  to  our  feelings  and  sentiments  I 
Can  human  nature  sink  to  a  lower  depth  ?  Only  think  ! 
the  innocent,  the  smiling  babe  must  be  sacrificed  and 
prepared  as  food  to  appease  the  craving  appetite.  Oh !  ye 
mothers  of  Christianized  lands,  how  you  must  shudder 
at  the  bare  allusion  to  such  degrading  barbarism ;  at  the 
mere  thought  your  blood  will  run  cold.  With  hearts  soft 
and  affectionate,  you  tenderly  love  your  offspring,  your 
whole  soul  is  enlisted  in  their  health,  life,  and  prosperity. 
Over  their  little  feet  you  carefully  watch  in  the  morning  of 
life,  and  kindly  guide  through  the  intricate  mazes  of  this 
transitory  world  until  you  are  assured  of  their  arrival  to 
the  years  of  maturity.  Why  should  you  deplore  the  fata 
of  those  who  descend  from  cannibal  sires  ?  From  the 
land  of  such  amazing  cruelty  they  have  fortunately 
escaped. 

"  The  negroes  were  idolaters.  God  they  knew  not,  nor 
his  holy  religion.  To  stocks,  stones,  and  images,  made 


40  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

with  their  own  hands,  they  bowed  down  and  worshiped. 
Here  they  are  placed  among  Christian  people — in  a  land 
of  light  and  vision.  Here,  the  way  to  life  everlasting 
will  be  pointed  out  to  them,  and  they  may  become  the 
heirs  of  glory.  All  these  infinite  blessings  await  them  in 
this  free  and  happy  land.  For  the  meek  and  lowly,  Christ 
died;  and  by  genuine  repentance  they  may  ascend  'to 
those  mansions,  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens.'  These  great  truths  they  had  never  learned  in 
Africa — of  Christ  and  His  holy  religion  they  might  have 
died  ignorant,  and  have  gone  to  '  that  lake  where  the  fire 
is  never  quenched.'  Thus,  by  the  inscrutable  ways  of 
Providence,  is  good  often  extracted  out  of  evil.  Our 
vision  extends  not  beyond  the  present  moment — we  know 
not  what  a  year  or  a  day  will  bring  forth ;  but  it  is  not 
so  with  Him  who  holds  the  destiny  of  this  world  in  his 
hands.  Through  the  long  vista  of  future  years,  He  fore 
sees  coming  events,  and  orders  and  directs  all  things  for 
our  benefit. 

"  Slavery  in  Africa  carries  with  it  the  right  to  sell. 
The  internal  slave-trade  prevails  to  a  great  extent. 
Among  some  nations,  if  a  slave  conducts  himself  impro 
perly,  he  is  delivered  up  by  the  others  to  his  master  to  be 
sold.  What  fidelity !  This  shows  a  noble  trait  in  the 
negro  character  to  a  just  master.  Where  Abolition  has 
not  extended  its  influence,  the  same  fidelity  is  often  mani 
fested  in  these  United  States.  Hence  it  is  not  thought 
any  great  hardship  to  make  sale  of  the  undutiful  and 
refractory  slave." 

"  I  should  like  to  inquire,  uncle,  whether  there  are  any 
Abolitionists  in  Africa  ?  Can  there  be  any  organized 
societies  in  that  deplorable  country,  with  money  and  facil 
ities  to  aid  'the  panting  fugitive'  in  his  escape  ?  I  ap 
prehend  there  are  no  voices  in  that  land  to  cheer  him 
onward." 

"  None  whatever,  David.  Turn  his  eyes  whitherso 
ever  he  may,  he  finds  no  one  to  secrete  him — no  asylum 
prepared  for  him — nor  any  friends  to  stand  between  him 
and  his  master.  No  Canada  there  to  which  he  can  fly. 
In  Africa,  he  is  not  enslaved  by  the  whites;  but  by  his 
own  race  and  color.  Strange  people,  truly.  If  they  find 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  41 

sympathy  in  this  country,  I  may  venture  to  say,  it  is  more 
than  they  ever  received  at  home. 

"  When  we  know  these  things — how  slavery,  the  most 
cruel  and  oppressive,  is  exercised  over  two-thirds  of  the 
negroes  in  their  native  solitudes,  does  it  not  appear  to  be 
the  greatest  mystery  that  those  who  are  continued  in  bon 
dage,  in  a  portion  of  these  States,  should  become  a  can 
onized  race  in  the  estimation  of  our  Northern  brethren 
and  the  people  of  Great  Britain.  That  mystery,  in  the 
sequel,  I  will  undertake  to  solve.  Ere  I  am  done,  the 
grand  design  in  all  this  mighty  movement  shall  be  fully 
Developed. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

The  Slave-trade — Its  origin — Those  who  participated  in  its  profits. 

"I  SUPPOSE,  David,  from  what  has  preceded,  the  origin 
of  the  slave-trade  will  not  be  difficult  to  discover.  Sla 
very,  we  have  stated,  has  existed  in  Africa — how  long,  it 
is  impossible  to  know  ;  bufcit  is  presumable  for  thousands 
of  years.  Holding  slaves  as  property,  and  possessing  the 
right  of  sale  and  transfer,  the  owners  in  Africa  felt  no 
scruples  in  disposing  of  their  slaves  to  a  European  if,  in 
their  estimation,  a  better  price  could  be  realized.  A  sale 
thus  made  was  in  conformity  to  the  customs  of  the  land. 
Public  sentiment  sanctioned  it,  and  no  one  supposed  it  so 
great  an  outrage  as  modern  philanthropists  now  imagine 
it  to  be.  The  people  in  Africa — can  it  be  admitted — had 
their  professional  slave-drivers :  and  they  could  not  dis 
cern,  what  difference  it  could  make,  whether  their  slaves 
dragged  out  their  miserable  existence  there,  or  in  foreign 
lands.  Nor  can  any  one  else.  To  make  the  most  of  it, 
it  is  only  a  change  of  country  and  masters — America  and 
the  white  man,  for  Africa  and  the  black  man.  The  ques 
tion  arises,  Has  the  slave  been  injured  by  the  change  ? 
None  will  say  so  who  will  rightfully  investigate  the 
subject. 

4 


4:2  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

u  In  the  free  States,  the  idea  of  one  human  being  sell 
ing  another,  is  held  up  as  a  horrible  practice.  How 
greatly  their  sensibilities  are  shocked,  in  that  region,  to 
talk  about  a  human  being — the  image  of  God — being 
owned  and  esteemed  as  property.  Now,  in  old  Africa, 
all  these  things  are  continually  occurring,  without  causing 
the^  smallest  excitement.  Worse  than  all,  parents  sell 
their  own  children,  and  sometimes,  the  children,  their 
parents.  Instances  of  both  kinds  are  on  record.  Nothing 
is  thought  of  it — it  is  an  every-day  occurrence.  What 
kind  of  people  must  those  be  who  deal  in  each  other's 
flesh !  To  talk  of  slave-holders  in  the  South  selling  a 
refractory  slave,  or,  under  some  peculiar  circumstances, 
separating  parents  from  children,  or  husbands  from 
wives — why  these  ties  are  sundered,  in  Nigritia,  without 
a  moment's  hesitation  or  remorse.  But  I  must  be  permit 
ted  to  say,  in  this  place,  as  a  general  rule,  these  ties  are 
not  disregarded.  My  present  object  is  only  to  show  that 
the  negroes  have  treated  each  other  with  infinitely  more 
cruelty  than  ever  was  inflicted  upon  them  by  the  white  race. 

"  Much  has  been  said  and  written  in  relation  to  the 
violation  of  those  sacred  ties  in  our  land  ;  while  they  are 
not  in  the  least  respected  in  Africa.  I  would  ask,  What 
kind  of  parents  must  those  b%  who  deal  in  the  flesh  of 
their  own  children  ?  What  kind  of  people  are  they,  who 
enslave  and  sell  one  another?  Where,  then,  were  their 
sympathies — their  natural  affection  ?  Truly,  the  negro  is 
an  extraordinary  being.  He  is  exalted  in  this  country  as 
one  of  the  masterpieces  of  creation.  The  whole  Chris 
tian  world  is  called  upon  to  embark  in  a  crusade  for  his 
liberation — to  wade  in  seas  of  blood  for  his  deliverance. 
But  when  we  turn  our  eyes  to  Africa — his  native  home — 
we  are  compelled  to  confess — for  it  is  the  uniform  voice 
of  history — that  millions  upon  millions  of  them  have  long 
borne  the  intolerable  yoke  of  slavery. 

"If  it  were  a  crime  in  the  European  to  buy,  shall  we 
hold  the  Africans  guiltless  in  selling  each  other?  This, 
upon  their  part  was  a  voluntary  act,  done  without  coercion. 
Those  who  resorted  to  the  western  coast  of  Africa,  for 
slaves,  only  had  to  let  their  intention  be  known,  and  they 
were  soon  supplied  with  these  human  chattels" 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  43 

"This  is,  uncle,  rather  a  curious  and  singular  piece  of 
history  to  me.  On  this  subject  I  have  never  reflected 
much,  my  mind  having  been  so  much  occupied  with  other 
studies.  "  I  found  the  negro  here,  planted  among  us.  The 
origin  of  his  enslavement,  and  transportation  to  these 
shores,  will  be  both  interesting  and  instructive.  I  had 
imbibed  the  notion — how  I  cannot  tell,  that  the  white 
man  had  gone  into  Africa — caught  and  bound  the  poor 
negro,  and  brought  him  weeping  and  wailing  to  the  ship. 
I  thought  at  home  in  Africa  he  was  a  harmless,  innocent, 
and  an  unsuspecting  creature,  who  was  torn  from  true 
and  affectionate  kindred,  and  brought  over  for  filthy  lucre, 
where,  for  the  first  time,  he  experienced  the  pangs  of  servi 
tude." 

"  Had  this,  David,  been  the  case,  the  cruelty  of  the 
slave-trade  would  have  been  greatly  aggravated.  For 
commercial  purposes  the  Europeans  first  visited  the  shores 
of  Africa.  What  were  the  commodities  offered  for  sale  ? 
Slaves,  ivory,  and  gold-dust.  The  first  and  most  valuable 
and  important  in  the  list,  were  'God's  Images.'  No 
doubt  the  first  traders  felt  astonishment  that  slaves  should 
constitute  an  article  of  merchandise.  I  suppose,  they 
were  pressed  to  embark  in  the  purchase  of  human  souls 
and  bodies.  When  they  consented  to  do  so,  these  human 
chattels  were  brought  in  numbers  to  their  vessels  for  sale. 
In  this  way,  I  presume,  the  traffic  commenced,  by  mutual 
consent,  and  for  mutual  profit  too.  The  sellers  and  buy 
ers  were  both  pleased  with  the  exchange. 

"  Now,  let  us  imagine  for  a  moment,  how  these  busi 
ness  transactions  were  performed,  in  olden  times,  on  the 
delightful  shores  of  loving  Africa.  Methinks  I  can  see 
the  vessel  safely  moored  in  one  of  her  harbors,  near  a 
slave  mart.  There  lie  the  manacles  on  deck,  assorted 
and  arranged  to  fit  various  sized  limbs,  all  in  readiness. 
The  news  spreads  rapidly  through  the  surrounding  vil 
lages.  She  has  arrived  and  is  waiting  for  a  cargo  of 
slaves.  The  intelligence  is  hailed  with  immense  delight. 
What  a  great  commotion  is  raised  among  the  ??iost  affec 
tionate  people,  so  beloved  in  our  day.  Cast  your  eyes  to 
the  shore  ?  What  is  to  be  seen  ?  Lo !  there  comes  a 
father  dragging  along  a  trembling  youth,  yonder  a  mother 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

hurrying  forward  a  weeping  daughter.  Yonder  comes  a 
professional  slave-driver  with  a  long  line  of  slaves,  there 
again  is  the  kidnapper  with  his  booty — there  a  king  with 
hundreds  of  prisoners,  surrounded  by  a  strong  guard — the 
whole  multitude  rushing  to  the  vessel  to  sell  each  other. 
Perhaps  the  father  has  sold  his  son  for  some  bauble  or 
other — the  mother  her  daughter,  for  a  few  trinkets. 

"What  has  become  of  these  poor  victims — the  son  and 
daughter  of  unfeeling  parents  ?  You  see  the  manacles — 
cold  and  terrible  to  them — fastened  on  their  quivering 
limbs,  and  they  are  doomed  to  the  Middle  Passage. 
Africa — the  place  of  their  birth — endeared  to  them  by  so 
many  youthful  scenes,  and  tender  recollections,  must  fade 
from  their  vision.  Oh  !  hapless  children,  well  may  you 
bemoan  your  hard  fate.  The  father  from  whose  loins  you 
sprang — the  mother  who  gave  you  birth,  have  consigned 
you  to  the  dark  and  dreary  hold  of  the  vessel.  In  viola 
tion  of  every  tender  sentiment  of  the  heart — of  the  strength 
and  warmth  of  parental  affection,  they  sold  you  to  the 
stranger  to  be  landed  on  the  far  distant  shores  of  the 
Western  World. 

"Where  ought  the  blame  to  fall  for  this  inhuman 
traffic  ?  Solely  on  the  buyer!  It  seems  to  me  the  damn 
ing  curse — if  it  must  be  so  considered — falls  upon  Africa 
herself.  It  is  her  act — her  deed.  By  her  own  cruel 
people  has  this  dark  cloud  been  fastened  on  America.  All 
the  sins  of  slavery — if  fall  they  must — should  be  upon 
her  devoted  head.  The  cry  has  gone  up  to  heaven,  that, 
forgetting  humanity — all  natural  affection — you  Africans 
have  sold  each  other  into  slavery — that  you  had  no  ten 
derness — no  love  for  your  own  flesh  and  blood.  If  you 
begin  now  to  love  each  other — if  the  milk  of  human  kind 
ness,  begins  to  run  in  your  veins — it  is  more  than  your 
ancestors  ever  felt  for  you  in  barbarous  Africa. 

"There,  alas!  you  had  no  friends.  The  mother  who 
fondled  you  on  her  lap — the  father  upon  whorn  you  re 
lied  for  protection,  became  your  worst  enemies.  They 
drove  you  from  them — they  handed  you  over  to  the  task 
master.  If  the  lash  is  heard  in  our  land — if  your  groans 
and  cries  disturb  our  quietude — it  is  the  fault  of  cruel  and 
unfeeling  relatives.  If  they  ha4  been  true  to  you — if  they 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEALED.  45 

had  exterminated  slavery  from  their  soil,  and  lived  in 
harmony  with  each  other — instituting  governments  suffi 
ciently  strong  to  protect  all  and  every  member,  your  des 
tiny  would  not  have  been  cast  upon  this  foreign  land, 
and  among  a  superior  Race. 

"  The  African  slave-trade  to  America,  dates  its  origin 
in  1503 ;  in  that  year  a  few  slaves  were  sent  from  the 
Portuguese  settlements  in  Africa  to  the  Spanish  colo 
nies  in  America.  By  Ferdinand  the  fifth  of  Spain,  in 
1511,  it  was  greatly  enlarged.  But  Willson  says,  in  his 
American  history,  that,  ••  in  the  month  of  August,  1620, 
a  Dutch  man-of-war  entered  James  river  and  landed 
twenty  negroes  for  sale.'  This  was  the  commencement  of 
negro  slavery  in  the  English  colonies. 

t4  This  traffic — call  it  inhuman  if  you  please — contin 
ued  for  over  three  hundred  years.  Hence  it  will  be  seen 
how  slow  the  nations  of  the  earth  were  in  discovering  its 
atrocity.  At  the  very  dawn  of  our  political  existence,  the 
African  was  introduced  to  our  shores.  Being  under  the 
control  and  authority  of  mother  England  in  all  respects 
whatsoever,  we  were,  at  that  time,  feeble  and  dependent 
colonies.  Did  she  stretch  forth  her  hand  and  rebuke  this 
trade  in  human  souls  ?  So  far  from  it,  she  embarked  in 
it  with  all  her  energy  and  vast  resources.  *  It  was,'  says 
the  same  author,  '  during  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  that  the 
African  slave-trade  was  first  introduced  into  England.' 
Sir  John  Hawkins,  according  to  his  account,  was  the  first 
Englishman  who  engaged  in  the  trade.  And  his  first 
cargo  he  obtained  by  persuasion— the  second,  by  violence. 
But  the  agency  of  the  British  government,  in  this  horri 
ble  traffic,  I  wish  more  particularly  to  notice. 

"  The  same  historian  remarks  that,  •  an  article  in  the 
treaty  of  Utrecht,  highly  important  to  America,  and  dis 
honorable  to  the  commercial  policy  of  England,  was  that 
by  which  England  became  the  great  monopolist  of  the 
African  slave-trade.'  That  treaty  is  dated  llth  of  April, 
1713.  Hume,  in  his  history  of  England,  in  speaking  of 
the  treaty  of  Rastadst,  says:  'He  (the  King  of  Spain) 
granted  an  exclusive  privilege  to  the  English  for  furnish 
ing  the  Spanish  West  Indies  with  negroes,  according  to 
the  Assiento  Contract.'  We  are  told  by  the  same  author. 


46  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

'the  Assiento  Contract  stipulated  that,  from  the  first  day 
of  May,  1713,  to  the  first  day  of  May,  1743,  the  com 
pany  should  transport  into  the*West  Indies,  one  hundred 
and  forty  thousand  negroes,  at  the  rate  of  four  thousand 
eight  hundred  negroes  a  year.'  So  great,  it  was  supposed, 
says  Willson,  would  be  the  profits  of  that  trade,  that 
Philip  Y.  of  Spain,  took  one-fourth  of  the  capital  of  the 
company,  and  Queen  Anne  reserved  to  herself  another 
quarter.  Th  us  they '  became  the  greatest  slave-merchants 
in  Christendom.' " 

"  Great  and  glorious  history !"  cries  David ;  "  the  mir 
ror  of  past  time.  Tradition  fails — events  cannot  thus  be 
long  preserved — truth  soon  fades  and  becomes  obliter 
ated  ;  but  thy  pages  shall  endure  until  c  this  world  shall 
be  rolled  together  as  a  scroll.'  Here  is  the  record,  show 
ing  how  England  strove  to  engross  that  trade  which 
robbed  Africa  of  her  children.  This  was  not  done  by 
individuals,  but  by  the  British  government,  and  the  good 
Queen  Anne.  Bring  all,  uncle,  to  the  bar  of  public 
opinion  ;  let  the  whole  world  see  how  and  who  perpetra 
ted  this  great  wrong  upon  Africa ;  and  who  has  hoarded 
the  vast  wealth  arising  from  this  abominable  trade  in 4  the 
bones  and  sinews  of  men.'" 

"  That  I  will  do,  David,  with  all  my  heart,  and  to  the 
full  extent  of  my  humble  abilities.  It  is  peculiarly  appro 
priate  at  this  period  in  our  history,  to  review  these  tacts. 
oSTot  many  years  have  elapsed  since  Thompson,  a  British 
subject,  a  member  of  Parliament,  came  across  the  Atlan 
tic  ocean  to  lecture  the  free-born  citizens  of  this  Union  on 
the  subject  of  African  slavery.  He  came  to  this  glorious 
country  to  vomit  forth  his  venom  and  malignity  against 
nearly  half  of  the  States  in  this  Confederacy;  because, 
forsooth,  they  still  held  in  bondage  those  very  Africans 
and  their  descendants  who  had  been,  by  England  herself, 
landed  on  our  shores,  and  sold  to  our  people. 

"  Her  subjects — at  least  many  of  them — are  now  rioting 
in  the  wealth  accumulated  from  this  nefarious  traffic.  She 
affects  to  loathe  slavery  in  the  present  age — she  wishes  to 
stand  forth,  at  this  time,  as  the  peculiar  friend  of  the 
negro  rade — She  professes  to  be  moved  with  the  most 
tender  compassion  for  their  servile  condition — a  condi- 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  47 

tion  which  she  has  imposed  upon  them  by  her  imperative 
authority. 

"By  her  own  act  she  has  made  those  negroes  property, 
things,  or  chattels.  At  the  time  of  our  colonial  de 
pendence  we  received  them  at  her  hands  —  paid  our 
money  for  them — and  thus  acquired  those  vested  rights, 
which  cannot  now  be  legitimately  destroyed  without  the 
consent  of  the  owners,  or  an  equivalent  compensation.  I 
have  been  minute  in  detailing  these  portions  of  history, 
as  they  will  have  an  important  bearing  on  what  may 
follow." 

"Allow  me  to  say,  uncle,  that  I  am  thoroughly  satisfied, 
England  was  mainly  instrumental  in  creating  African 
slavery  upon  this  continent.  She  not  only  supplied  her 
own  colonies,  but  grasped,  with  avaricious  hand,  the  trade 
from  Spain — I  might  truly  say,  extorted  it  from  her  by 
force  of  arms.  Hence  she  may,  very  properly,  be  styled 
lthe  great  monopolist  of  the  African  slave-trade.'  If 
criminality  attaches  to  the  institution,  she  has  to  make 
atonement  at  the  bar  of  Almighty  God,  for  planting  it  in 
our  midst — for  suffering  it  to  grow,  spread,  and  to  take  such 
deep  root,  until  the  idea  of  its  extermination  is  rendered  so 
dangerous  to  the  black  and  white  races — as  almost  to  for 
bid  its  contemplation.  Her  inordinate  desire  of  wealth 
and  aggrandizement,  has  involved  our  political  affairs  in 
such  inextricable  complication." 

"True,  very  true,  David.  England  has  incurred  an 
awful  responsibility  in  the  establishment  of  slavery  in  this 
Union.  To  her  alone  it  is  indebted  for  its  origin.  She 
stands  confessed  before  the  world  its  principal  and  genuine 
author.  In  the  first  instance  she  permitted  it,  then  en 
couraged  it,  and  finally  became  the  greatest  slave-dealer 
ever  known.  These  facts  I  shall  use  freely  in  my  ani 
madversions  on  Abolitionism — the  next  and  last  subject  I 
proposed  to  investigate.  All  I  have  hitherto  said  is  only 
preliminary  to  this  grand  design." 

"  I  rejoice,  uncle,  at  the  announcement.  I  am  ex 
tremely  anxious  to  hear  that  subject  developed,  that  is 
causing  this  Union  to  tremble  in  every  fier. 


48  ABOLITIONISM   UNYEILED. 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

The  origin  of  Abolitionism — A  peep  into  England's  secret  Archives. 

uTnE  origin  of  Abolitionism,  David,  has  long  been 
veiled  in  mystery.  I  have  thought  it  useful  to  resort  to 
every  expedient  to  trace  it  to  its  first  germ.  I  believed  it 
was  of  foreign  growth  —  that  it  never  originated  in  these 
United  States.  This  seeming  sympathy  for  the  negro, 
has  a  higher  and  a  more  dangerous  aim — no  less  than  the 
disruption  and  overthrow  of  this  government.  But  I 
wish  now  to  hear  the  result  of  your  visit  to  Cincinnati, 
whither  I  sent  you  to  procure  some  secret  information." 

u  Well,  uncle,  I  have  hastened  back  with  all  possible 
dispatch.  I  have  succeeded  beyond  my  expectation  in 
tracing,  to  its  true  source,  this  disturbing  spirit  of  Aboli 
tionism  that  has  become  so  bold  as  to  place  itself  above 
the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  Union." 

"  You  have  been  fortunate,  indeed,  David,  in  your 
researches.  I  was  apprized  it  required  great  dexterity 
and  address  to  acquire  the  desired  information.  But, 
from  your  known  acuteness,  I  had  no  doubt  of  your 
success. " 

"  I  must  confess,  uncle,  the  undertaking  was  by  no 
means  a  pleasant  one.  I  had  to  use  dissimulation — so 
as  to  be  all  things  to  all  men.  I  had  to  insinuate  myself 
thus  into  confidence.  You  are  sensible  this  was  not 
pleasant  and  agreeable  to  my  feelings.  I  am  a  blunt, 
plain  young  man,  and  in  the  habit  of  speaking  directly 
to  the  point  in  hand.  But  1  have  obeyed  your  advice 
in  using  some  policy  in  ferreting  out  the  desired  infor 
mation." 

"I  am,  David,  under  a  thousand  obligations  to  you  for 
having  made  the  discovery  I  thought  was  possible.  I 
have  always  believed  the  true  object  of  the  Abolitiort 
excitement  has  never  been  fully  known  to  the  people  of 
the  United^tatss." 

"And  in  that,  uncle,  you  were  not  mistaken.  I  have 
fyere  a  copy  of  an  important  State  Paper — one  that  has 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  49 

never  before  seen  the  light.  The  original  is  under  heavy 
lock  and  key  in  the  Court  of  St.  James." 

"Pray,  how  came  you,  David,  by  the  copy?  how 
was  it  procured,  and  to  what  degree  of  credence  is  it 
entitled?" 

"  I  will  tell  you,  uncle,  in  as  few  words  as  I  can.  I  got 
on  the  mail  steamer,  late  in  the  evening.  I  soon  fell  in 
with  an  Englishman,  named  Darby  —  I  know  them  at 
sight — he  was  communicative  and  intelligent.  He  found 
out  I  was  from  Kentucky,  and  he  ventured  to  ask  me  how 
*  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin'  took  in  that  State,  which  made  my 
blood  run  hot  in  a  minute ;  but  I  tried  to  suppress  my 
rising  indignation. 

"  Said  1,  'Mr.  Darby,  please  tell  me  why  the  people 
of  England  read  with  avidity  and  delight  every  vile  pub 
lication  on  the  subject  of  slavery  ?  What  business  is  it 
of  theirs  to  intermeddle  in  our  domestic  concerns?  What 
need  they  to  feel  an  interest  in  the  continuance  of  slavery 
in  these  United  States  ?  We  are  a  free  and  independent 
nation,  not  under  their  sway  or  control,  and  we  are  cer 
tainly  competent  to  settle  that  and  all  other  questions 
that  may  arise  among  us,  without  their  assistance  or 
interference.' 

"  4  Yery  well,  sir,'  said  he.  c  I  find  you  very  sensitive 
on  the  subject  of  slavery.  That  book,  you  please  to  term 
4  vile,'  we  consider,  is  a  true  picture  of  your  peculiar  insti 
tution.  Perhaps  its  horrors  are  not  half  delineated;  it  is 
certainly  the  sin  of  all  sins — the  curse  of  all  curses!  It 
is  a  foul  blot  upon  this  nation  that  cannot  be  too  soon 
removed.' 

"  1  was  determined  to  keep  cool,  as  you  requested  me; 
but  it  was  a  very  difficult  task  under  the  provocation. 
My  passion  almost  overcame  me ;  but  I  replied : 

"  l  You  Englishmen,  sir,  are  eternally  interfering  in  our 
domestic  affairs.  You  are  not  satisfied  to  remain  at  homo 
and  give  your  entire  attention  to  your  internal  prospe 
rity,  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  }Tour  starving,  suffer 
ing  masses ;  but  your  sympathy  passes  over  their  heads 
to  the  African  race  held  in  bondage  here.  You  have 
Lazari  starving  at  your  own  doors,  to  whom  you  will 
not  give  the  crumbs  falling  from  your  own  tables ;  but 


50 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 


you  have  an  abundance  of  charity  to  bestow  upon  the 
negro.' 

"  4  You  may,5  said  he,  '  stop  that  tirade  of  abuse.  Be 
it  known  to  you,  sir,  we  are  competent  to  take  care  of  our 
own  poor.  I  do  not  thank  you  for  these  severe  and  de 
grading  reflections  upon  my  native  laud.  The  govern 
ment  and  people  of  England,  thank  God,  are  in  favor  of 
the  abolition  of  slavery  throughout  the  world.' 

"  c  We  care  not,'  I  replied,  c  what  you  are  for,  or  what 
you  are  against.  We  scorn  your  charity  —  we  reprobate 
your  officious  disposition.  The  South,  sir,  will  hold  in 
utter  abhorrence  your  impotent  efforts  to  liberate  her 
slaves.  An  asylum  in  Canada  you  may  furnish  those 
that  may  escape  —  your  government  may  secretly  aid  by 
money  the  Abolition  cause  in  the  North — but  this  con 
temptible  tampering  with  our  local  rights  will  ultimately 
meet  with  retributive  justice.' 

"  ' Retributive  justice!9  said  he.  'Ah!  indeed!  A 
people,  like  you,  divided  and  distracted,  barely  holding 
together,  ready  almost  at  any  moment  to  commence  the 
work  of  destruction,  talk  of  'retributive  justice!'  Your 
Union,  sir,  is  only  a  rope  of  sand  ;  it  has  no  adhesive 
quality  in  it.  The  North  is  prepared  to  gird  on  the  sword 
to  liberate  the  groaning  millions  you  hold  South  in  cruel 
and  hopeless  bondage.  The  enemy  is  in  your  midst  who 
will  simultaneously  rise  at  the  sound  of  the  shrill  trump 
of  freedom.  The  South  will  be  overwhelmed  and  anni 
hilated.  She  will  present  one  grand  scene  of  conflagra 
tion,  rapine,  and  devastation.' 

" 4  Hold,  sir,'  said  I,  4 1  cannot  bear  such  scandalous 
and  derogatory  language  of  my  country.  You,  an  alien, 
a  Briton-born,  to  come  here  under  the  safeguard  and 
protection  of  our  flag,  enjoying  the  rites  of  hospitality, 
and  thus  to  vent  your  malignity  against  nearly  one-half 
the  States  of  the  Union,  shows  a  degree  of  boldness, 
nay,  impudence  and  insolence,  which  I  cannot,  nor  will 
suffer.' 

"  c  Sir,'  said  he,  4 1  came  here  not  to  quarrel  or  involve 
my  self  in  personal  difficulties.  I  am  on  a  mission  of  a 
different  nature.  I  came  over  to  congratulate  the  author 
ess  of  c  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin'  on  behalf  of  the  great  Anti-  x 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  51 


slavery  Society  of  England.    Her  work  has  had  a  mi{ 
run  in  that  country.     It  is  admired  and  eulogized  far 
beyond  anything  that  has  ever  gone  to  the  press.' 

14 ;  If  you,'  said  I,  '  are  a  man  of  peace,  you  ought  to 
employ  more  moderate,  more  decorous  language.  I  am 
a  Southerner,  and  am  ready  at  the  point  of  the  sword, 
if  need  be,  to  maintain  and  support  all  and  singular  our 
constitutional  rights  and  privileges  at  every  hazard.  In 
so  holy  a  cause — a  cause  involving  the  safety  and  pre 
servation  of  our  firesides,  our  wives,  and  our  children  — 
we  are  willing  to  shed  our  blood,  and  offer  our  bodies  as 
a  sacrifice.  If  fall  we  must,  it  shall  be  like  Leonidas  and 
his  immortal  band  at  Thermopylae.' 

"  4 1  should  like  to  know,  sir,  why  your  people  take  so 
lively  an  interest  in  everything  connected  with  Abolition 
in  the  United  States.  How  came  that  book  of  which  you 
speak,  to  obtain  so  much  celebrity  in  Great  Britain  ?  It 
cannot  be  because  you  think  it  true,  because  you  suppose 
it  a  faithful  and  just  representation  of  slavery  in  this  coun 
try.  You  are  surely  too  well-informed  for  that.  But  it 
must  be  for  only  this  reason — such  writings  are  calculated 
to  disgrace  Republicanism,  humble  it,  and  lay  it  prostrate 
at  the  feet  of  her  Majesty.' 

"CI  will,'  said  he,  Met  the  book  pass;  but  you  will 
permit  me  to  state,  the  English  were  active  in  abolishing 
the  slave-trade,  and  also  made  the  first  movement  in 
emancipation,  to  wit :  the  slaves  in  her  West  India  Islands; 
and  she  now  invites  the  co-operation  of  all  the  nations  of 
the  earth  in  bringing  slavery,  early  as  possible,  to  an  end. 
She  takes  a  lively  interest  in,  and  will  aid  the  Abolition 
ists  of  the  North,  in  the  great  work  they  have  so  nobly 
and  generously  undertaken.  The  home-government  has 
set  aside  a  large  body  of  land  in  Canada  for  a  retreat  and 
refuge  to  the  slaves  who  may  arrive  in  those  provinces 
from  the  United  States.  By  the  industry  and  influence 
of  the  Abolitionists  in  the  Free  States,  many,  very  many, 
of  the  colored  people  are  availing  themselves  of  this  gra 
cious  gratuity  of  her  Majesty.' 

"I  answered,  ironically,  'Her  Majesty  is  vastly  bene 
volent  indeed.  She  permits  the  poor  Irish  to  starve  to 
death,  out  of,  no  doubt,  pure  love  to  them ;  but  away 


52  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

across  the  Atlantic  she  is  making  ample  provision  for 
fugitive  slaves.  Now,  pray  tell  me  who  is  entitled  to 
the  credit  of  this  extraordinary  devotion  to  the  negro 
race,  and  at  what  time  it  commenced  ?' 

"  '  My  government,'  he  replied.  '  She  made  the  first 
move  in  Abolition  a  short  time  before  Societies  of  that 
character  were  organized  in  these  United  States.  The 
British  ministry,  in  full  council,  in  the  year  1831,  after 
mature  and  deliberate  consideration  and  argument,  de 
vised  arid  laid  out  the  mode  and  manner  of  procedure  in 
this  laudable  and  praiseworthy  enterprise.' 

"  c  Permit  me  to  inquire,'  said  I,  ;  if  it  be  possible  to 
obtain  a  copy  of  the  Proceedings  of  Council  in  this  case — 
one  so  momentous  in  its  consequences  to  many  states  of 
this  Union  ?' 

" ' By  no  means,'  said  he ;  'I  have  already  been  be 
trayed  into  an  imprudent  confession.  It  is  a  state  secret; 
the  paper  that  contains  it  will  never  see  the  light.'  At 
this  moment  the  boat  landed  at  the  wharf,  and  Darby  dis 
appeared  in  the  crowd. 

u  With  these  items  of  intelligence  I  resolved  the  next 
morning  to  prosecute  my  inquiries  with  unremitting  dili 
gence.  You  know,  in  the  Queen  City,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  there  are  people  of  every  nation,  kindred  and 
tongue.  The  Gentiles  and  Jews  are  there  commingled. 
Not  only  that,  but  it  is  the  place  where  intercourse  is  pre 
tended  to  be  held  with  the  Spirit  world.  I  first  thought 
of  trying  the  Rappers  ;  but  then  their  answers  would  all 
be  in  knocks,  and  the  words,  the  identical  words,  spoken 
in  Council  we  wanted.  Still  I  did  not  despair  of  striking 
upon  some  plan  of  securing  a  copy  of  the  document  that 
had  for  so  many  years  remained  a  state  secret." 

"Deeply  perplexed  in  mind  as  to  the  proper  course,  I 
took  up  my  board  at  Dennison's  hotel,  a  central  position, 
and  a  good  location  for  seeing  a  variety  of  persons  from 
all  points  of  the  compass.  The  house,  though  large,  was 
full  to  overflowing.  I  examined  the  physiognomies 
around  me.  How  diverse  !  and  to  me  all  were  strangers. 
I  began  to  turn  my  eyes  to  the  many  glowing  advertise 
ments  suspended  around.  What  schemes  innumerable  to 
divert  people  out  of  their  money!  But  I  was  suddenly 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  53 

arrested  by  the  word  CLAIRVOYANCE,  in  large  flaming  cap 
itals;  in  which  it  was  announced,  that,  under  its  influence, 
a  person  could  read  a  paper  in  London,  over  three  thou 
sand  miles  distant,  though  it  might  be  locked  up  in  an 
iron  chest,  and  be  surrounded  by  massive  walls,  as  readily 
as  if  spread  before  his  eyes.  A  grand  and  marvelous  dis 
covery  !  I  resolved  to  use  it  to  bring  to  light  a  portion 
of  history  which  had  so  long  remained  a  secret. 

"  Having  procured  and  put  on  a  full  Quaker  suit  of 
clothis,  I  repaired  to  the  room  where  the  performance 
was  in  progress.  Having  paid  my  admission  fee,  I  took 
my  seat  near  the  manager,  and  near  the  subject  in  a  state 
of  clairvoyance. 

"  I  said  to  the  manager,  '  Can  thy  clairvoyant  read  a 
paper  behind  his  back,  or  any  distance  from  him  2' 

" '  Yes,'  he  replied,  '  to  test  his  supernatural  powers 
any  gentleman  is  invited  to  ask  for  the  morning  news  in 
London  or  elsewhere,  and  it  will  be  given  correctly.' 

"  '  Friend,'  said  I,  'I  would  like  to  propound  a  question 
to  thy  subject.  I  came  to  this  city  on  a  mission  of  vast 
importance  to  my  people  at  home.  Thou  knowest,  per 
haps,  that  the  Friends  have  always  been  zealous  in  the 
cause  of  Abolition ;  and  we  have  affirmed  that  Great 
Britain  was  its  early  promoter  and  patron.  We  have 
understood,  that,  as  early  as  1831,  the  council  of  Great 
Britain  held  an  important  meeting  on  this  subject,  the 
results  of  which  have  never  yet  been  made  fully  public. 
Thou  wilt,  therefore,  enjoin  it  upon  the  clairvoyant  to 
give  me  the  aforesaid  debate  in  council,  and  the  whole 
proceedings  on  that  memorable  occasion,  if  thy  subject 
be  indued  with  such  perspicacity.' 

"  '  Indeed,'  said  the  manager,  '  that  is  the  severest  test 
1  ever  heard  proposed  ;  but  as  it  is  from  a  t hee  and  thou 
man,  who  always  acts  from  conscientious  motives,  I  will 
make  the  effort  to  gratify  this  singular  though  likely,  laud 
able  curiosity.' 

"  'Simon,  Simon,'  says  he,  'didst  thou  hear  the  ques 
tion  ?' 

"  'Ay,  sir ;  ay,  sir/ 

u  '  What  canst  thou  see  in  the  Premier's  Office  in  Lon 
don,  dated  Anno  Domini,  1831?' 


54:  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"  'A  large  pile  of  State  papers.' 

"  '  How  are  they  labeled  2' 

u  '  1  see  one  marked  Secret  and  Confidential.' 

"c  What  further?' 

"  'The  Debate  in  Council  in  favor  of  Abolishing  Slavery.' 

"  c  Canst  thou  decipher  the  contents  ?' 

"  '  I  will  try.     It  reads  thus : 

"  (  The  Prime  Minister.  My  Lords  :  I  have  invited  you 
to  this  secret  and  confidential  council  to-day,  to  investi 
gate  and  discuss  a  subject  deeply  affecting  the  supremacy 
and  glory  of  the  empire.  Among  the  nations  of  the  earth 
we  stand  pre-eminent.  Our  influence  and  councils  are 
potential  in  the  affairs  of  Europe.  In  the  Continental 
wars,  which  enveloped  Europe  like  a  flame,  it  was  our 
Wellington  and  his  invincibles  that  produced  the  de 
thronement  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte — his  banishment  and 
the  general  pacification  which  followed.  In  our  safe 
keeping  he  dragged  out  the  remnant  of  his  days  on  the 
barren  rock  of  St.  Helena. 

"  c  Since  those  days,  the  balance  of  power  has  been  so 
happily  adjusted  by  the  Holy  Alliance,  as  to  produce  a 
general  peace  for  a  series  of  years.  I  can  discover  noth 
ing  at  present,  or  in  the  future,  likely  to  compromit  this 
happy  and  prosperous  state  of  affairs  in  Europe.  It  is 
not  from  that  quarter  we  need  apprehend  danger  to  our 
commerce,  naval  superiority,  or  our  tranquillity. 

"  *  But  there  is  a  nation  beyond  the  Atlantic  we  have 
much  reason  to  dread  as  a  formidable  rival  to  us  in  all 
respects  whatsoever.  I  mean  the  United  States  of  North 
America.  For  many  long  years  I  have  had  my  eyes 
fixed  upon  that  growing,  ambitious,  and  grasping  Re 
public. 

" '  I  need  hardly  say,  I  am  a  true  Briton  ;  that  I  love  old 
England,  and  that  the  nearest  wish  to  my  heart  is  to 
maintain  her  greatness,  her  glory,  and  to  make  her  renown 
and  supremacy  on  the  ocean  perpetual — for  this  purpose 
I  am  willing  to  sacrifice  all  I  hold  dear  upon  earth. 

"  c  Hence  I  have  been  studying,  with  the  most  intense 
solicitude,  the  history  of  the  Union — the  political  structure 
of  its  National  and  State  governments.  On  the  one 
hand,  I  have  scrutinized  the  elements  which  constitute  its 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  55 

strength  and  durability.  Then,  on  the  other,  I  have  no 
ticed  the  contrariety  of  interests,  the  diversity  of  pursuits, 
and  sectional  feelings,  that  may  engender  strife,  bicker 
ings,  and  deep  animosity,  and  ultimately  disunion. 

u '  I  come  before  you,  my  Lords,  from  this  investigation, 
searching  and  thorough,  of  that  youthful  nation,  to  deliver 
to  you,  in  plain  and  unambiguous  language,  the  mature 
and  solemn  convictions  of  my  best  judgment.  Feeble 
though  they  may  be,  to  our  hands  has  been  committed 
the  destiny  of  this  great  and  powerful  empire.  For  the 
time  being,  we  are  the  humble  guardians  of  her  greatness, 
her  fame  and  her  glory. 

"  'In  discharging  the  responsible  and  momentous  duties 
with  which  we  have  been  intrusted  by  his  gracious  Ma 
jesty,  we  must  not  only  retrospect  the  past,  to  examine 
into  events  that  have  become  history ;  but  also  to  make 
an  effort  to  penetrate  into  futurity,  so  that  we  may  ascer 
tain  the  position  our  country  will  occupy,  for  years  to 
come,  among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  In  reference, 
therefore,  to  these  deeply  interesting  matters,  I  have  re 
quired  you  to  convene  at  this  juncture. 

"  4My  Lords:  I  have  to  say,  in  the  growth  and  military 
genius  of  the  people  of  the  United  States.  I  can  see  much 
to  cause  alarm.  Though  they  are  bone  of  our  bone,  flesh 
of  our  flesh,  yet  between  them  and  us,  I  am  free  to  ob 
serve,  there  never  can  or  will  be  any  cordial  relations, 
any  reciprocal  friendship.  Though  that  nation  might  be 
said  with  propriety  to  have  sprung  from  our  loins,  yet 
they  are,  and  will  probably  continue  to  be  our  most  bitter 
arid  implacable  enemies.  (Profound  sensation.) 

"  *"  The  War  of  the  Revolution  was  cruel  and  sanguinary, 
as  all  civil  wars  are  sure  to  be.  We  employed  the  In 
dians,  with  their  tomahawks  and  scalping  knives,  to  aid 
us  in  the  work  of  butchery.  The  same  we  did  in  1812 — 
in  our  second  war  with  that  people.  Those  savages  were 
let  loose  upon  the  frontiers,  and  slaughtered  indiscrimi 
nately  men,  women  and  children.  These  cruelties  have 
sunk  deep  into  the  American  heart.  As  their  legitimate 
fruit,  they  have  produced  estrangement  and  eternal  alien 
ation.  These,  I  fear,  are  the  results  of  our  two  contests 
with  America.  The  national  feeling  there,  according  to 


56  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

my  humble  opinion,  will  always  be  adverse  to  us.  Our 
armies  in  Europe  justly  acquired  the  character  of  '  invin 
cible  ;'  but  in  our  conflicts  with  America,  that  fame  per 
ished,  and  at  New  Orleans  those  hard-earned  laurels,  won 
in  so  many  campaigns  on  the  Continent  by  our  armies, 
faded  and  perished. 

4>' '  Nor  did  we,  on  the  ocean,  come  out  of  the  last  con 
test  with  that  supremacy  which  it  has  so  long  been  our 
pride  and  boast.  Our  tars  have  triumphantly  sung,  and 
with  truth,  that  '  Britannia  rules  the  wave.'  How  long 
ere  the  palm  will  be  snatched  from  our  hands  ?  Should 
that  youthful,  aspiring,  and  energetic  nation  continue 
united,  the  conviction,  however  unpleasant  it  may  be,  is 
forced  upon  our  minds,  that  the  glory  of  England  on  the 
high  seas  must  depart  forever ;  she  will  have  to  sink  in 
the  scale  of  nations,  and  assume  a  secondary  rank.  Now 
what  can  be  done — what  is  it  possible  to  do — to  prevent 
so  great  a  mortification  and  disgrace  ? 

"  4  In  the  solution  of  this  question,  so  intimately  con 
nected  with  our  present  and  future  greatness,  we  must  try 
to  penetrate  the  veil  of  futurity.  We  must  cast  our  views 
forward  to  what  time,  in  its  progress,  may  produce  in  the 
great  family  of  nations.  We  have  in  Europe  a  Holy  Al 
liance  among  the  crowned  heads  that  will  keep  up  a  just 
equipoise,  or  maintain,  with  firmness  and  energy,  what 
is  usually  termed  the  Balance  of  Power.  But  when  we 
examine  the  United  States  of  America — a  nation  of  but 
yesterday — occupying  a  fertile  and  extensive  country,  and 
growing  at  a  giant's  pace,  by  what  rules  can  they  be  con 
trolled,  how  circumscribed  and  confined  within  reasonable 
limits  ? 

"  '  My  Lords :  I  may  venture  to  predict,  without  some 
internal  divisions,  that  Union  is  destined  to  become  the 
greatest  nation  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  In  the  pre 
sence  of  that  people,  ere-long,  all  Europe  will  tremble. 
Have  we  not  seen  with  what  facility  they  acquire  terri 
tory.  Louisiana,  Florida,  ultimately  Texas,  and  other 
states  from  Mexico.  With  a  territory  equal  to  all  Europe, 
reaching,  perhaps,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  ocean, 
and  from  the  cold  regions  of  the  north  to  the  tropical  cli 
mate  of  the  south,  they  must  become  a  very  strong, 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  57 

dangerous  and. powerful  rival.  The  forests  of  that  great 
country  will  be  subdued — the  Indian  race  must  melt  and 
vanish  as  the  dews  before  the  rays  of  the  morning  sun. 
The  march  of  civilization  is  onward.  In  the  wide  expanse 
of  fertile  soil,  I  behold  all  the  aliments  of  true  greatness  ; 
how  rapid  and  astonishing  will  be  the  development  of  its 
mineral  and  agricultural  resources !  The  physical  means 
of  such  a  people,  blessed  by  Providence  with  these  incon 
ceivable  advantages,  are  too  great  for  contemplation.  At 
this  vision  of  the  future,  I  am  troubled  —  my  heart  has 
sunk  within  me  !  I  see  in  it  the  knell  of  England's  de 
parting  greatness.  Can  anything  be  done  to  avert  this 
catastrophe  ?  This  is  the  great  question  for  you  to  inves 
tigate  and  decide. 

"  '  My  Lords:  it  is  the  duty  of  all  sagacious  statesmen 
to  weigh  coming  events,  and  to  prepare  for  every  possible 
contingency.  What  can  be  done  to  divide,  distract,  and 
destroy  the  Federal  Union  ?  To  this  momentous  question 
I  have  devoted  many  sleepless  nights,  and  I  am  prepared 
to  give  you  the  result  of  my  researches  and  intense  medi 
tations. 

"  '  My  Lords :  the  weak  point  in  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  was  clearly  indicated  in  the  discussions  of 
Congress,  respecting  the  admission  of  Missouri.  Slavery, 
ever  since  that  memorable  debate,  is  the  rock  upon  which 
that  Union,  it  seems  to  me,  must  split  into  atoms.  I 
could  not  refrain  from  observing  the  intense  excitement — 
how  the  whole  governmental  fabric  trembled  in  every 
nerve,  when  that  question  was  involved.  The  two  sec 
tions,  North  and  South — the  Free  and  Slave  States — were 
marshaled  in  solid  phalanx,  and  stood  in  the  most  menac 
ing  attitude  toward  each  other.  The  line  of  demarcation 
was  plainly  drawn,  and  the  destiny  of  the  Union  appeared 
suspended  by  a  hair.  In  this  awful  crisis,  big  with  unut 
terable  woe  to  that  country,  a  Compromise  was  patched 
up,  which  has  restored  apparent  harmony. 

u  4  But  ever  since  that  day,  it  is  self-evident  that  Slavery 
is  an  element  of  weakness  in  the  national  compact.  If 
this  c  peculiar  institution'  can  be  cautiously  and  judi 
ciously  assailed,  the  South,  being  very  sensitive  on  this 
subject,  can  be  driven  to  madness.  I  conceive  we  have 


58  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

it  in  our  power  to  set  the  ball  in  motion  that  will  eventu 
ally  work  a  dissolution  of  the  Union. 

U4I  would,  therefore,  propose: 

"  '  1.  That  we  aid  by  pecuniary  means  any  Abolition 
Societies  that  may  organize  in  the  Free  States. 

"  '  2.  That  we  will  contribute  to  the  endowment  of  Col 
leges  where  both  races,  white  and  black,  are  educated  in 
common. 

u '  3.  That,  as  soon  as  practicable,  an  Act  shall  be 
passed  to  emancipate  the  slaves  in  our  West  India 
islands. 

U44r.  That  we  receive  with  kindness  and  affection  in 
our  Canadian  provinces  all  Fugitive  slaves  escaping  from 
the  United  States. 

"  k  5.  That  a  large  body  of  the  Crown  lands  be  set  aside 
in  said  provinces  for  the  exclusive  occupation  and  posses 
sion  of  such  fugitives. 

"  c  My  Lords  :  if  the  plan,  which  I  have  suggested,  can 
bo  secretly  and  faithfully  carried  out,  it  will  produce  the 
consequences  that  I  anticipate.  Can  it  be  done  ?  I  am 
persuaded  there  is  nothing  easier ;  for  no  subject  can  be 
selected  that  will  enlist  warmer  feelings  or  deeper  sym 
pathy.  The  cruelties,  the  enormities  of  slavery  can  be 
painted  in  such  glowing  colors,  by  fluent  and  impassioned 
orators,  so  as  to  rouse  the  masses  of  the  North.  Beside, 
those  holy  fathers,  clothed  in  sacerdotal  robes,  who  stand 
upon  the  watchtowers  of  Zion,  will  come  forward  and  in 
burning  language  denounce  this  great  abomination  upon 
earth.  We  have  also  among  us  men  fluent  in  speech 
tli at  can  make  the  '  worse  appear  the  better  cause,'  and 
4  from  whose  lips  words  sweet  as  honey  distill,'  that  would 
enlist  under  the  banner  arid  march  in  this  holy  crusade 
against  slavery. 

"'My  Lords:  we  conquered  Europe  no  less  by  our 
money  than  by  our  armies.  Diplomacy  has  done  more 
than  military  prowess.  Our  gold  has  been  distributed 
with  a  liberal  hand,  and  it  has  had  a  powerful  influence 
in  elevating  England  to  the  pinnacle  of  glory  to  which 
she  has  arrived,  and  made  her  the  chief  arbiter  in  the 
great  affairs  of  the  world." 

"  c  Carried  unanimously  in  the  affirmative.' 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  59 

"  *  Can  you  see  aught  else  ?'  said  the  manager  to 
Simon. 

"  '  That  is  the  end  of  the  document,'  he  replied. 

uAnd  you  now  have  it,  uncle,  just  as  it  came  into  my 
possession — letter  for  letter — word  for  word." 

u  Let  it  go  to  record,  David,  and  pass  for  what  it  is 
worth.  I  may.  at  another  time,  take  the  liberty  of  allud 
ing  to  it." 


CHAPTER    IX. 

The  Document — Abolitionism. 

"  IN  regard,  David,  to  the  document  you  presented,  I 
would  remark,  I  have  no  great  confidence  in  clairvoyance. 
I  am  rather  of  a  skeptical  turn.  I  have  never  been  able 
to  take  anything  upon  faith,  I  want  it  sustained  by  clear, 
positive,  and  unequivocal  testimony.  Circumstantial  evi 
dence,  in  some  cases,  I  would  not  reject,  where  there  was 
a  long  train  of  incidents  pointing  unerringly  to  the  same 
liict  —  such  coincidence  might  force  conviction  upon  my 
mind.  Many  a  person  has  been  hung  upon  just  such 
evidence,  and  I  have  no  doubt,  justly.  Indeed,  in  many 
crimes,  it  is  the  only  evidence  that  can  be  adduced,  and 
if  that  were  wholly  rejected,  many  heinous  offenses  would 
be  committed  without  the  possibility  of  punishment.  In 
weighing  the  document  in  question,  I  should  attach  very 
little  importance  to  it  if  taken  alone,  without  concurring 
circumstances ;  but  I  am  at  least  satisfied  of  one  fact, 
that,  if  such  language  was  never  used  by  the  Prime  Min 
ister,  the  policy  therein  indicated  has  been  steadily  and 
closely  pursued.  By  bringing  all  the  subsequent  circum 
stances  fully  to  light,  the  presumption  will  be  strong 
that,  if  those  words  were  not  spoken,  they  might  have 
been." 

u  From  your  usual  circumspection,  uncle,  I  was  prepared 
for  such  an  answer.  You  will  allow  me  to  say,  I  have 
always  found  you  to  be  of,  very  slow  faith.  You  must 


60  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

weigh  and  criticise,  and  examine  closely,  before  you  will 
consent  to  adopt  an  opinion." 

"  My  credulity,  David,  I  must  confess,  is  not  so  great 
as  that  of  many  people.  From  a  few  isolated  facts  they 
will  jump  to  a  general  conclusion  with  all  imaginable 
facility;  by  these  means,  setting  at  defiance. all  the  sound 
rules  of  Logic  recognized  by  the  common  sense  of  man 
kind.  If  you  wish  to  establish  a  general  principle  in 
Natural  Philosophy,  Astronomy,  Metaphysics,  or  any  art 
or  science — how  is  it  to  be  done?  By  a  majority,  and  not 
by  a  few  solitary  instances." 

u  That,  uncle,  is  surely  correct.  Every  other  mode  of 
reasoning  would  fye  false  and  erroneous.  Let  us  make 
the  application.  It  must  be  conceded  that  the  great  body 
of  mankind  are  honest  and  virtuous.  This  general  prin 
ciple  may  be  affirmed  with  propriety  and  truth.  But 
again,  this  general  principle  is  liable  to  exceptions.  A 
few  are  thieves  and  assassins.  Now  would  it  do  to  argue 
thus:  Tom,  Dick,  and  Harry  are  rogues — therefore,  all 
men  are  dishonest.  The  absurdity  of  such  argumentation 
is  too  obvious  to  escape  detection." 

UI  grant  it  is  all  true  to  the  letter,  David.  By  such 
reasoning,  you  can  prove  all  mankind  are  drunkards, 
liars,  blasphemers,  murderers,  or  whatever  else  you  please. 
In  that  manner  the  system  of  Slavery  has  been  continually 
assailed.  A  few  solitary  instances  of  cruelty  in  owners, 
are  hunted  up,  and  displayed  to  the  Public  in  the  most 
revolting  colors.  Although  a  large  majority  of  masters 
may  be  humane,  yet  all  are  held  up  as  monsters  of  ini 
quity  and  cruelty ;  the  whole  system  is  described  to  the 
world — the  christianized  world — as  an  object  of  abhorrence 
and  utter  detestation.  And  the  deception — I  mean  in  a 
certain  latitude — is  palmed  upon  the  people  without  detec 
tion — it  is  all  swallowed  as  free  as  Holy  Writ.  Nor  can 
you  make  truth  penetrate  into  minds  under  such  a  deep 
bias,  and  inveterate  prejudice." 

"  A  melancholy  truth,  uncle.  We,  of  the  South,  who 
are  grossly  misrepresented  and  shamefully  traduced  at  the 
North :  if  we  come  forward  in  our  own  defense  and  vindica 
tion,  we  cannot  be  heard,  or  receive  even  a  respectful  notice. 
However,  I  am  not  disposed  to  murmur.  Although  a 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  •  61 

great  excitement  North  has  been  created  against  Slavery, 
yet  it  is  a  solemn  fact,  that  the  state  of  society  South  has 
undergone  no  change  since  the  earlier  days  of  this  Re 
public:  unless  it  is  in  softening  the  rigors  of  bondage." 

"This  fact,  David,  has  filled  my  mind  with  great 
amazement.  I  ask  myself,  whence  all  this  eternal  agita 
tion?  Why  are  these  bitter  waters  administered  to  our 
lips?  What  have  we  done  to  bring  down  on  our  devoted 
heads  the  ceaseless  anathemas  of  the  good — religious, 
and  enlightened  people  of  the  Free  States  ?  Slavery  is  not 
of  recent  origin — it  has  not  been  lately  introduced — but 
is  coeval  with  the  earliest  settlements  nearly  that  were 
made  on  this  continent.  What  is  the  crime  of  this  gene 
ration  in  regard  to  it?  Simply  its  continuance.  Herein 
lies  the  whole  offense,  committed  by  our  persecuted  sec 
tion.  The  Africans  among  us  are  slaves — standing  in  the 
same  relation  to  the  whites  they  have  always  done  in  this 
country.  We  know  them — understand  their  habits,  dis 
positions,  and  capacities,  better,  far  better  than  strangers 
can  possibly  do. 

"  Can  the  Africans  be  emancipated  with  safety  at  this 
time  ?  That  is  a  great  question  for  the  consideration  of 
the  age.  Those  who  are  the  most  capable  of  deciding  it, 
aver  the  day  has  not  yet  come.  The  most  powerful 
reason  is,  they  are  unfit  for  freedom — incapacitated  for 
its  proper  enjoyment.  Their  liberation  now  would  prove 
a  curse  to  themselves  and  the  whites. 

"Who  are  those  who  are  aspiring  to  sit  in  judgment 
upon  this  momentous  question,  and  assume  over  it, 
exclusive  control  ?  The  Abolitionists  of  the  North.  Who 
are  they  who  dare  to  clothe  themselves  with  such  a  fearful 
prerogative  as  to  take  the  whole  South  under  their  peculiar 
guardianship.  They  have  made  themselves  our  keepers, 
and  arrogated  over  us  a  boasted  superiority.  We  will 
trace  their  history  concisely.  About  the  year  1833  of  the 
Christian  era,  Abolitionism  made  its  appearance  in  these 
United  States.  Its  pretensions  were  humble  and  inoffen 
sive.  Its  appeal  was  to  the  master — and  him  only.  Its 
mission  was  one  of  Christian  love  and  conciliation.  The 
master  was  to  be  convinced,  and  his  judgment  enlightened. 
Its  arguments  and  persuasions  were  all  for  his  eye  and 


62  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

ear.  With  the  slave  it  scorned  to  tamper.  His  peace  and 
quietude,  it  did  not  by  any  means  design  to  disturb.  It 
wore  too  the  holy  garb  of  religion — its  countenance  was 
meek  and  lowly.  No  wonder  it  entwined  itself  around 
the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  sped  over  the  North.  It 
was  so  condescending  and  kind — vowing  the  most  expan 
sive  philanthropy.  Its  arms  encircled  the  enslaved  chil 
dren  of  Africa.  How  lovely  the  sight! 

u  But  it  has  often  changed  its  name.  Abolitionism 
was  discarded,  and  it  reared  its  menacing  head  as  The 
Liberty  Party.  Under  that  name  and  banner  it  has  fought 
and  won  many  victories.  But  that  mantle  proved  too 
narrow  to  cover  its  ponderous  shoulders  long,  so  recently 
it  has  merged  itself  into  Free-Soilism.  But  it  is  still  the 
insidious  and  unwearied  foe  of  the  South.  Its  name  has 
often  changed,  but  there  has  been  no  faltering  in  its 
wicked  and  pernicious  purpose. 

uWhen  we  implore  the  Abolitionists  to  halt,  in  their 
mad  career,  and  survey  the  consequences  likely  to  result 
from  their  agitation ;  they  indignantly  reply,  u  What  are 
consequences  to  us?"  Nothing  at  all.  They  will  not 
think  of  them  a  moment.  Their  eye  is  on  a  higher  law — • 
conscience^  is  the  secret  monitor  to  which  they  do  obei 
sance.  Surely  they  are  sailing  on  a  dangerous  and 
boisterous  sea.  Cut  ourselves  adrift  from  the^laws  of  the 
country — take  conscience,  or  the  'higher  law,'  for  our 
guide,  how  soon  will  we  be  ingulfed  in  the  whirlpool  of 
mobocracy.  Our  very  political  existence  and  salvation 
depend  upon  a  rigid  adherence  to  the  laws.  Can  any  one 
doubt  where  this  higher  law  will  terminate  ?  Blind  and 
infatuated  must  be  the  mind,  which  does  not  see  its  inevi 
table  tendency  is  to  anarchy,  confusion  and  bloodshed." 

"I  am  astonished,  uncle,  at  the  reckless  career  of  Abo 
litionism.  Does  it,  indeed,  scorn  and  disregard  'conse 
quences  ? '  What  madness — what  extreme  folly  !  I  see 
whither  all  this  will  lead.  The  laws  enacted  by  the 
supreme  Legislature  of  the  country — the  safeguard  and 
protection  of  us  all — are  to  be  counted  of  non-effect,  if 
chanced  to  be  variant  from  4  the  higher  law?  What 
else  is  this  but  the  substitution  of  an  invisible,  arbitrary 
rule,  according  to  the  caprice  of  each  individual,  for  the 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  63 

precise,  clearly-defined  boundary  between  right  and  wrong , 
as  prescribed  by  the  supreme  authority  of  the  State?" 

44  It  is  essential,  David,  that  the  laws  be  enacted  by  the 
proper  authority,  and  promulgated  to  those  whom  they 
are  to  govern.  Their  publicity  is  ever  presumed,  and 
ignorance  of  them  is  not  admitted  to  be  pleaded  in  defense 
of  their  violation.  These  rules,  therefore,  must  be  so 
plainly  written  and  published,  that  all  who  choose  may 
read  and  understand  them.  This  is  the  great  advantage 
of  written  law.  I,  as  a  citizen  of  this  great  community, 
am  advised  of  my  rights;  and  whenever  those  rights  are 
invaded  or  withheld,  I  am  apprised  of  my  remedy.  The 
panoply  of  the  State  hovers  over  me — it  guards  me  by 
night  and  by  day.  Should  my  person  be  assailed,  or  my 
property  be  stolen  or  damaged  by  others,  the  State  makes 
herself  a  party  in  the  case,  and  inflicts  upon  the  wrong 
doer  condign  punishment.  So  dearly  are  the  liberties  and 
rights  of  each  member  of  society  prized,  that  all  misde 
meanors  and  felonies  are  deemed  and  considered  offenses 
against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the  Commonwealth. 
In  this  manner,  the  whole  society  takes  an  interest  in  the 
security,  happiness,  and  protection  of  each  and  all  its 
members :  and,  in  return,  each  one  owes  implicit  and  ab 
solute  obedience  to  the  Laws  of  the  land." 

"But,  uncle,  if  I  am  rightly  informed,  the  Abolition 
ists  are  in  open  rebellion  against  a  plain  provision  of  the 
Federal  Constitution,  and  a  law  of  Congress  passed  in 
pursuance  thereof." 

"That  cannot  be  denied,  David — it  is  too  notorious  to 
be  called  in  question.  By  the  Federal  Compact,  c  any 
person  owing  service  or  labor  in  one  State,  who  shall 
escape  into  another,  shall  be  delivered  up.'  The  law  only 
undertakes  to  define  the  mode  and  manner  of  that  deliv 
ery.  Notwithstanding,  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  has  been 
resisted  unto  blood:  it  makes  no  difference  though  it  was 
enacted  in  pursuance  of  the  Constitution,  being,  therefore, 
the  supreme  law  of  the  land.  Nevertheless,  the  Aboli 
tionists  conceive  they  are  doing  God's  service  to  render  it 
a  nullity.  Although  this  same  Constitution — the  liga 
ment  that  binds  these  States  for  national  purposes,  has 
distinctly  declared  that,  by  no  law  or  regulation  shall  any 


64  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

State  defeat  'the  delivery  up'  of  fugitives  who  owe  service 
or  labor  to  the  party  to  whom  such  service  or  labor  is 
due  ;'  yet  this  plain  and  solemn  provision,  so  imperative 
in  language,  is  converted  into  mockery  and  delusion  by 
Abolition  chicanery.  Onr  slaves  are  seduced  from  us, 
and,  instead  of  being  'delivered  up,'  in  conformity  to  the 
Federal  Compact,  an  Underground  Eailroad  has  been  pro 
vided  to  convey  them  secretly  and  rapidly  to  Canada — 
bc3rond  the  jurisdiction  of  our  government,  and  where  an 
asylum  has  been  provided  for  them  by  the  munificence  of 
her  Majesty's  government." 

"  We  have  heard  much,  uncle,  of  southern  Nullification. 
Calhoun  and  his  friends  have  been  greatly  stigmatized 
North,  for  their  advocacy  of  that  remedy  for  what  they 
supposed,  unconstitutional  legislation.  Even  that  apology 
these  Abolitionists  cannot  offer ;  for  there  is  no  question 
of  the  constitutionality  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law ;  and  yet 
it  is  most  shamefully  evaded." 

"  To  that  point  I  was  coming,  David.  John  C.  Cal 
houn  was  a  good,  great,  and  wise  man.  Errors  he  com 
mitted,  as  all  public  men  generally  do :  otherwise  he 
would  have  been  more  than  human.  The  contest  for 
State  Rights,  upon  his  part,  was  not  so  censurable  as  one 
might  imagine.  He  sleeps  quietly  in  his  grave,  uncon 
scious  of  the  turmoils  by  which  we  are  surrounded.  As 
he  foresaw  and  anticipated,  the  danger  of  despotism  in  the 
Federal  Head  is  growing  annually  more  and  more  immi 
nent.  A  most  hostile  sentiment  to  the  South  is  growing 
up  at  the  North,  which,  if  not  arrested,  must  soon  shake 
this  Union  to  the  center — if  it  does  not  work  its  disso 
lution." 

u  Why,  uncle,  I  am  startled  at  the  announcement.  Can 
it  be  possible  that  the  North,  like  Samson,  in  his  blind 
madness,  would  tear  down  the  pillars  that  sustain  the 
glorious  edifice  of  this  Union,  thereby  overwhelming 
themselves  and  us  in  one  general  ruin  ? " 

"  I  fain  hope,  David,  that  such  may  not  be  the  unhappy 
termination  of  the  momentous  contest  that  is  now  raging 
between  North  and  South.  The  waves  of  fanaticism 
are  deepening  and  deepening  continually.  I  do  not  like 
to  be  an  alarmist;  but  I  cannot  shut  my  eyes  upon  the 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  65 

increasing  ill-will,  distrust,  and  hatred  which  are  engen 
dering  between  the  two  sections.  Who  can  calm  the 
angry  billows  of  strife  that  are  rolling  to  overwhelm  this 
once  happy  country  in  irremediable  woe  ?" 

"  I  do  not  entirely  despair  of  the  Union — the  good 
sense — the  second  sober  thought  of  the  North,  may  come 
to  the  rescue.  But  I  must  say  I  see  nothing  even  to  en 
courage  a  faint  hope  from  Abolitionism.  Should  that  rise 
in  the  ascendant  in  our  Federal  Councils,  this  Union  is 
gone,  if  it  were  made  of  adamant.  Southern  rights 
would  be  invaded — in  fact,  the  Constitution  would  be  a 
dead  letter,  and,  in  its  place,  would  be  a  Northern  despot 
ism,  though  the  forms  of  government  might  remain." 

u  Upon  what  ground  could  the  North  justify,  uncle, 
such  palpable  usurpation  ?  I  have  always  been  taught  to 
believe  that  the  States  were  the  original  sovereigns  in  this 
country,  and  that  the  Federal  Government  is  a  creature 
of  theirs,  invested  with  well-defined  and  limited  powers — 
that  they  had  a  prior  existence,  and,  by  their  joint  action, 
created  this  nationality.  Now,  shall  the  creature  de 
stroy  the  creator — like  a  bloody  monster,  devour  its  own 
parents  ?" 

"That,  David,  is  a  wise  and  proper  inquiry.  I  could 
demonstrate  to  the  unprejudiced  the  necessity  of  the 
strictest  adherence  to  the  Compact  among  the  States. 
The  Confederation  carried  us  through  the  revolution ; 
because  unbounded  patriotism  pervaded  the  bosoms  of  all. 
But  when  peace  came,  it  was  soon  found  to  be  inadequate 
to  our  wants — its  inefficiency  became  clearly  visible,  and 
consequently,  in  1787,  a  Convention  was  called  to  form  a 
more  perfect  union.  It  met  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  pre 
sent  Constitution  is  the  result  of  its  labors. 

"  How  evident  it  is,  that  the  powers  conferred  upon  the 
general  government  are  limited  and  specific,  the  resi 
duum  being  reserved  to  the  States  or  the  people  thereof. 
The  terms  and  conditions,  upon  which  this  Union  was 
entered  into  among  the  thirteen  original  States,  will  be 
found  in  the  Constitution.  The  powers  delegated  and 
those  reserved  are  distinctly  delineated.  The  South  pro 
poses  to  the  North,  that,  on  these  conditions  she  will  con 
sent  to  the  Union : 


66  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"  First.  c  I  retain  the  privilege  to  import  slaves  from 
Africa  until  1808' — twenty  years. 

"  Secondly.  4  You  are  to  deliver  up  any  person  that 
may  escape  into  your  States,  if  he  owes  me  service  or 
labor.' 

"  What  is  the  reponse  from  the  North  ? 

"  4I  will  unite  with  you  upon  those  terms  and  condi 
tions — that  shall  be  the  sacred  agreement  between  us.' 

"  Here,  then,  we  have  the  solemn-plighted  faith  among 
thirteen  equal  sovereignties  —  in  language  plain,  direct, 
and  positive — free  from  all  imaginable  ambiguity." 

u  Permit  me  to  observe,  uncle,  that  I  have  recently 
seen  it  stated  by  Abolitionists,  that  this  Union  was  formed 
for  freedom — to  circumscribe  and  root  out  Slavery.  Much 
is  said  of  the  tyranny  of  the  slave-power — of  its  encroach 
ments  and  aggressions.  I  would  like  to  hear  how  just 
those  imputations  are ;  for  I  frankly  confess  I  am  not 
thoroughly  versed  in  the  political  history  of  my  country." 

"  I  am  old  enough  to  remember  much  of  this  history, 
David.  As  there  is  an  antagonism  now  prevailing  be 
tween  the  two  sections,  I  presume  it  will  be  appropriate 
to  investigate  this  controversy  more  minutely.  The  great 
question  for  solution  is,  where  is  the  wrong.  The  candid 
inquirer  after  truth  —  whether  in  the  North  or  South  • — 
would  crave  to  be  enlightened  on  so  perplexing  a 
subject." 


CHAPTEK   X. 

The  Union — The  Dangers  that  environ  it. 

"  IT  seems  to  me,  David,  proper  to  meditate  for  a  mo 
ment  upon  the  nature  of  this  Compact  among  the  States. 
The  assumption,  that  this  Union  was  formed  to  circum 
scribe  or  destroy  Slavery,  is  untenable  and  unwarrantable. 
The  thirteen  States  forming  it  —  nearly,  if  not  quite  all, 
at  that  very  time  tolerated  slavery.  And  again,  why  was 
the  slave-trade  permitted  for  twenty  years  ?  Was  it  to 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  67 

ensnare  our  citizens  by  permitting  them  to  import  more 
and  more  Africans,  that  this  Federal  head  might  have 
the  pleasure  of  turning  them  all  loose  to  the  detriment 
and  ruin  of  the  whole  South?  The  very  idea  is  pre 
posterous." 

"  Suffer  me,  uncle,  for  a  moment  to  read  the  preamble 
to  the  Federal  Constitution : 

"  ;  We,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to 
form  a  more  perfect  Union,  establish  justice,  insure 
domestic  tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common  defense, 
to  promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings 
of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  posterity.' " 

u  What  a  catalogue  of  noble  objects  !  Will  Abolition 
ism  secure  to  us  these  great  blessings  ?  Will  the  design 
of  our  noble  ancestors  in  convention  be  more  fully  realized 
by  the  success  of  these  wretched  fanatics  ?  —  I  can  call 
them  by  no  better  name. 

"  No,  never,  never!  I  say  it  emphatically,  David.  It 
is  truly  fanaticism  in  its  wildest  and  most  despicable 
form  —  it  is  nothing  more.  This  spirit  is  of  the  most 
dangerous  character  —  it  is  allied  to  insanity.  Will  it 
listen  to  reason ?  can  it  be  entreated  or  conciliated?  No, 
indeed.  You  had  as  well  try  to  stop  the  tornado  in  its 
destructive  march.  With  reason  dethroned,  it  dashes 
madly  along — blind  and  self-willed — uprooting  and  pros 
trating  all  obstacles  in  its  way.  Indeed,  there  is  no 
remedy  for  it  but  a  strait-jacket." 

"Oh!  uncle,  you  are  too  highly  incensed.  You  pour 
out  your  vials  of  wrath  in  no  measured  terms.  Perhaps 
the  Abolitionists  may  be  convinced  of  their  errors  by  fair 
and  legitimate  argument.  Do  you  think  Chase,  Wade, 
Sumner,  Wilson,  Seward,  Giddings  and  others  are  past 
conviction  ?" 

"  Indeed  I  do,  David.  I  would  rather  undertake  to 
split  rails  the  balance  of  my  days  for  a  living,  than  to 
reason  with  such  men  on  the  subiect  of  slavery.  I  do  not 
accuse  them  of  anything  more  tnan  insanity  on  this  par 
ticular  subject.  In  all  other  respects  they  are  wise  and 
enlightened  men. 

4(1  This  is  not  the  first  time  the  spirit  of  fanaticism  has 
visited  this  earth.  At  other  times,  and  in  other  ages,  it 


68  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

has  appeared ;  but  it  may  be  truly  remarked,  it  has 
always  been  productive  of  more  evil  than  good.  It  has 
uniformly  carried  in  its  train  discord  and  bloodshed.  Call 
to  mind  the  Crusades.  How  many  deluded  human  beings 
fell  in  those  ill-conducted,  bloooly,  though  styled  Holy 
Wars!" 

"  Yes,  uncle,  I  recollect  how  those  wars  originated,  and 
for  how  long  a  period  of  time  they  were  vainly  prose 
cuted.  The  present  crusade  against  slavery  does,  in  fact, 
bear  some  parallel  to  those  undertaken  for  the  recovery 
of  the  Holy  Land.  Both  assume  the  garb  of  religion. 
The  Crusaders,  in  olden  time,  had  for  their  motto,  4  It  is 
the  will  of  God.'  All  had  this  inscription  on  their  ban 
ners  and  shields.  Here  is  the  paternity  of  i  the  Hiqher 
taw.'" 

"  You  might,  David,  have  traced  the  similitude  further. 
Abolitionism,  with  countenance  meek  and  lowly,  wore 
the  holy  robes  of  religion  in  her  first  debut  in  our  land. 
Over  the  poor  Africans,  held  in  bondage,  she  mourned 
and  wept.  She  upbraided  us  of  the  South  for  tyrannizing 
over  these  'Images  of  God.'  So  it  was  with  the  Holy 
Land.  Turks  and  infidels  tramped  their  wicked  feet  upon 
that  pure  and  consecrated  ground.  Nor  was  that  all. 
Pilgrims,  visiting  Palestine  and  the  Holy  Sepulcher,  were 
subjected  to  numerous  insults  and  extortions.  At  last, 
Peter  the  Hermit,  called  a  meeting  of  Christians  in  the 
plains  of  Placenzia  —  for  no  house  could  hold  them  — 
where  he  harangued  them  in  relation  to  the  Holy  Land, 
and  while  he  was  urging  them  to  march  there  for  its  re 
covery,  the  whole  multitude,  as  it  were  with  one  voice, 
cried  out  4  It  is  the  will  of  God.'  And  Peter  did  under 
take  to  lead  an  army  to  that  distant  land  — a  vast  undis 
ciplined  multitude,  who  devoured  everything  on  their 
march,  but  accomplished  nothing  worthy  of  remem 
brance.  After  many  and  repeated  efforts  —  spreading 
over  many  years — Christendom  settled  down  in  quietude, 
resigning  the  Holy  Land  to  the  peaceable  dominion  of  the 
Turks  to  this  very  day." 

"  I  venture  to  say,  uncle,  that  this  crusade  against 
Slavery  will  be  equally  unsuccessful  and  disastrous. 
What  but  blind  fanaticism  could,  for  a  moment,  imagine 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  69 

that  Emancipation  was  to  be  achieved  by  agitation  beyond 
our  limits  ?  Can  the  North  issue  the  imperative  decree,  that 
slavery  shall  no  longer  exist  in  this  Union,  and  that  too, 
in  total  disregard  of  the  rights  of  the  slave-holder,  and  in 
opposition  to^  his  will,  interest,  security,  and  happiness?" 

a  In  answer  I  would  observe,  David,  this  can  only  hap 
pen  when  northern  fanaticism  shall  override  the  Federal 
Compact,  and  make  this — instead  of  the  freest  govern 
ment — the  vilest  despotism  upon  earth.  If  the  South 
could  tamely  submit  to  such  usurpation — if  it  should  ever 
happen — and  consent  to  hold  her  most  precious  and  inval 
uable  rights  and  privileges  by  the  sufferance  and  at  the 
mercy  of  a  Northern  irresponsible  majority,  she  would 
be  unworthy  the  name  she  bears  for  bold  and  daring 
chivalry." 

u  Let  me  repeat,  uncle,  the  South  will  never  falter  in 
the  defense  and  support  of  those  rights  guaranteed  by  the 
Federal  Compact.  The  institution  of  slavery  is  a  local 
question — appertaining  exclusively  to  the  States  where  it 
exists — over  which  Congress  dare  not  attempt  to  exercise 
any  authority,  except  in  the  enforcement  of  that  provision 
of  the  Constitution  already  quoted — in  delivering  up 
1  persons  owing  service  or  labor.'  The  power  of  Congress 
in  this  regard  has  been  disputed.  But  if  the  States  fail 
or  refuse  lto  deliver  up,'  how  is  this  provision  to  be 
enforced  ?" 

"  The  inquiry  is  pertinent,  David.  I  am  apprised  that 
the  Abolitionists  claim  this  privilege  for  the  free  States — 
denying  to  Congress  any  jurisdiction  in  the  matter  at  all. 
Now,  if  the  States  refuse  to  make  such  delivery — as  most 
of  them,  if  not  all,  are  continually  doing — 'has  the  slave 
holder  any  remedy  ?  None  whatever,  if  that  construction 
be  true.  The  slaves  will  be  enticed  away — they  will  be 
supplied  with  the  means  of  making  their  escape :  but  as 
to  delivering  them  up,  it  would  never  be  done.  An  ap 
peal  might  be  made  to  the  plain,  authoritative  language 
of  the  Federal  Compact;  but  of  what  avail  would  it  be 
in  the  estimation  of  those  devotees  of  a  higher  law  ?" 

u  I  do  presume,  uncle,  if  we  were  to  rely  upon  the 
people  of  the  free  States  4  to  deliver  up  fugitive  slaves, 
upon  the  claim  of  the  owner  or  agent,'  it  would  be  rarely, 


70  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

if  ever  done — the  sacred  and  inviolate  obligation  entered 
into,  to  the  contrary,  notwithstanding.  The  parties  to 
the  compact,  as  heretofore  noticed,  firmly  bound  them 
selves  mutually  to  do  this  very  thing.  What  is  the  value 
of  compacts  among  sovereign  States,  if  they  are  to  be  so 
soon  repudiated,  and  so  shamefully  disregarded!" 

"Ah !  indeed,  David — do  not  all  the  pages  of  history 
crowd  with  examples  of  such  perfidy  ?  The  maxim  that 
has  governed  the  world  is,  might,  not  right.  A  poor 
commentary  upon  such  intelligent  beings  as  we  are — hav 
ing  been  too  created  in  the  image  of  God.  But  surely 
this  same  being  has  immeasurably  fallen  from  his  original 
primeval  simplicity  and  holiness.  Look  at  him  in  the 
mirror  of  history — that  mirror  that  gives  his  true  and 
genuine  features,  without  diminution  or  increase.  What 
else  can  we  exclaim  but  this,  '  Man  is  to  man  the  sorest, 
direst  foe?'  A  most  melancholy  reflection  !" 

"I  ask  the  liberty  to  observe,  uncle,  that  I  notice  a 
growing  complication  in  the  affairs  of  this  nation.  Those 
who  formed  our  National  Constitution,  are  barely  cold  in 
their  graves,  and  yet  our  Union  is  tottering  to  the  center — 
vibrating  like  the  terrible  motions  of  a  volcano.  When 
it  will  burst,  God  only  knows." 

u  What  is  the  cause  of  all  this  bitterness  and  angry 
feeling,  David,  between  the  North  and  the  South.  I  am 
ashamed — humbled  in  the  dust  to  declare  it — it  is,  pro 
fessedly,  the  negro — the  negro  !  Shall  this  fact  go  down 
to  future  ages — stand  in  bold  relief  on  the  historic  page 
that  Liberty — the  birthright  of  America — the  country 
which  was  made  an  asylum  for  oppressed  humanity  from 
all  parts  of  the  earth,  was  destroyed  by  love  for  the  negro  f 
That  it  so  happened  in  these  United  States,  that  three 
millions  of  that  race  were  held  in  bondage,  without  any 
choice  on  the  part  of  the  present  generation,  but  by  en- 
tailment  of  mother  England?  But  its  enormity  was  not 
discovered  until  1833  of  our  era.  Our  Federal  Constitu 
tion,  as  before  stated,  was  formed  in  1787.  Then  our 
ancestors  met  in  Convention — came  together  from  the 
North  and  South — interchanged  views  and  sentiments, 
and,  by  conciliation  and  compromise,  laid  the  foundations 
of  the  present  government.  Why  should  the  labors  of 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  71 

those  sagos  and  patriots  be  now  despised  and  contemned  ? 
The  objects  to  be  attained  by  the  Union,  they  set  forth 
explicitly  in  the  preamble.  The  necessity  now  for  the 
Union  remains  in  full  force — not  abated  one  iota.  Are 
not  justice,  domestic  tranquillity,  common  defense,  gen 
eral  ivelfare,  and  the  blessings  of  liberty,  as  dear  to  ns 
this  day  as  they  were  in  '87  to  our  forefathers  ?  The 
negro  at  that  time  could  not  prevent  the  formation  of  this 
Union,  and  shall  he,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1855,  be 
able  to  dissolve  it  1 " 

"  I  should  fain  hope  the  contrary,  uncle.  But  we  have 
recently  seen  it  avowed  by  a  champion  in  their  cause. 
He  says :  '  To  all  America  the  time  has  come — Liberty 
or  despotism.'  Again:  'Blood  consecrates  even  the 
remorse  of  great  wrong.'  Also, '  I  am  cheered  that  I  find 
myself  in  sympathy  with  the  great  minds  and  heroic  hearts 
of  the  nation.'  What  does  all  this  signify  ?  Must  we 
understand,  the  Abolitionists  are  ripe  for  civil  war?  If 
such  be  their  contemplation,  it  is  time  the  whole  South 
were  roused  from  their  lethargy." 

"I  have  seen,  David,  a  letter  published  in  the  Cincin 
nati  Gazette,  under  date  of  July  19,  1855,  over  the  sig 
nature  of  C.  M.  CLAY:  and  also  a  published  statement  of 
his  remarks  at  Brush  Creek  Meeting  House,  in  which  he 
is  reported  to  have  said.  'The  thing — (meaning  civil 
war)  had  to  have  a  beginning,  and  it  had  as  well  begin  at 
the  Dripping-Spring  as  anywhere  else.'  He  undertook 
also  to  show,  'The  Free-Soil  party  in  the  North  were  in 
the  ascendency — that  they  would  unite  with  the  negroes 
South,  and  thus  light  up  the  torch  of  civil  war.'  He  fur 
ther  said,  'our  motto,  was  freedom  on  the  soil.'  Here, 
indeed,  we  have  the  programme  of  the  great  Free-Soil 
faction  North !  Let  the  South  buckle  on  her  armor." 

"  It  seems,  uncle,  the  cloud  is  darkening.  Whether  it 
will  burst  upon  this  once  happy  land,  is  only  known  to 
Him  who  holds  the  destiny  of  nations  in  his  hands.  I  am 
unable  to  believe  that  we  are  doomed  to  the  greatest 
calamity  any  nation  ever  endured  since  the  creation  of  the 
world.  Of  all  wars,  a  civil,  is  the  most  horrible.  Cal 
lous  must  be  his  heart  who  can  calmly  contemplate  the 
possibility  of  such  an  event." 


72  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"  I  am,  David,  a  friend  to  this  Union.  Let  the  Consti 
tution  in  spirit  and  intent  be  fairly  executed.  Let  all  its 
Compromises  be  religiously  regarded — for  it  is  the  palla 
dium  of  all  our  civil  and  political  rights.  Slavery  was  no 
obstacle  to  the  creation  of  the  Union,  and  ought  not  to 
jeopardize  its  continuance.  Oh !  how  patriotism  has 
waned  since  the  days  of  the  great  and  good  WASHING 
TON.  He  and  his  compatriots  in  arms  and  in  Council, 
were  the  friends  of  this  more  perfect  Union.  The  adjust 
ment  of  the  slavery -question  on  a  basis  satisfactory  to  both 
sections,  was  then  consummated .  It  remains  for  the  people 
of  the  North  to  abide  by  it,  or  stir  up  a  Contest  that  all 
good  and  peaceable  persons  will  sincerely  deprecate. 

"But  the  Free-Soil  party  are  highly  incensed  at  the 
aggressions  of  the  slave-power.  They  are  thought  to  be 
in  the  ascendency  North,  and  a  threat  has  been  made 
that  they  will  unite  with  our  Slaves,  in  carrying  war  and 
devastation  over  the  whole  South.  Has  this  menace  been 
lightly  made  or  is  it  in  reality  in  unison  with  the  heroic 
hearts  of  the  nation  !  " 

"  It  is  strange — vastly  strange,  uncle,  if  these  public 
declarations — made  by  a  conspicuous  citizen  of  Kentucky, 
are  authorized  and  sanctioned  by  Free-Soilism.  He  is 
well  known  to  be  in  close  affinity  with  that  party,  and 
must  be  presumed  to  be  well  acquainted  with  their  secret 
and  dangerous  machinations.  Should  such  be  their  de 
sign,  we  may  know  the  days  of  this  Union  are  numbered. 
What  is  the  great  offense  of  the  South  ?  What  has  she 
done,  to  call  down  upon  her  so  formidable  a  coalition? — 
for  Abolitionism  has  again  hid  its  brazen  front  under  the 
veil  of  Free-Soilism — the  chameleon  has  changed  its  color, 
but  the  nature  of  the  animal  is  identically  the  same." 

"Yes,  David,  Free-Soilism — that  is  the  syren  word 
adopted  by  the  Fusion  Party ; — that  term  affords  a  veil 
copious  enough  to  cover  all  the  political-isms  in  the  land. 
Behold !  what  a  conglomeration  of  all  the  heroic  hearts  of 
the  nation,  and  when  the  negroes  of  the  South  shall  be 
fused  into  it — what  will  we — the  white  men,  women  and 
children  have  to  do?  The  humble  privilege,  I  presume, 
will  be  left  to  us  to  prepare  for  our  exit — to  eternity. 
What  could  we  do — it  is  thought — against  such  over- 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  73 

whelming  odds — against  the  swarms  from  "the  Northern 
Hive!"  and  their  black  allies — the  semi-savage  Afri 
cans  in  our  midst.  In  olden  time  the  Goths  and  Vandals 
and  Huns  emerged  from  the  deep  recesses  of  the  North,  and 
carried  fire  and  sword  throughout  the  Koman  Empire. 
They  devastated  the  country — rapine  and  bloodshed  was 
the  order  of  the  day ;  and  the  fairest  portion  of  the  then 
civilized  world  was  overran  and  depopulated  by  these 
merciless  hordes.  Is  Free-Soilism  now  ready  and  prepared 
to  embark  in  a  similar  mission — to  tread  in  the  footsteps 
of  the  Goths,  Vandals,  and  Huns  ?" 

"To  answer,  uncle,  this  question  in  the  affirmative,  would 
be  an  acknowledgment  that  the  world  has  remained 
stationary.  Although  the  inventions  of  our  day  have 
been  great,  in  steam — machinery,  railroads,  telegraph, 
and  fire-arms — the  arts  and  sciences  ;  yet  these  inventions 
and  improvements  would  only  enable  us  the  more  rapidly 
to  destroy  each  other,  and  to  sweep  from  the  earth  mil 
lions  of  our  race.  Twenty-two  millions  of  whites — citizens 
of  one  common  country — armed  with  all  the  contrivances 
of  modern  invention — must  rush  into  mortal  combat — ay, 
the  North  against  the  South — all — all.  for  what?  The 
liberation  of  three  millions  of  Africans.  What  a  mighty 
tragedy  for  such  a  caiixe  ?  " 

"  Truly,  truly,  David — the  cause,  would  be  dark  and 
disgraceful.  It  would  entail  upon  our  age  and  nation  a 
stigma  that  would  descend  to  the  last  moment  of  revolving 
time.  Take  up  our  Revolutionary  history — our  subsequent 
acquisitions — the  growth  and  strength  of  our  nation — its 
vast  area — the  variety  of  our  soil  and  productions — having 
all  the  aliments  of  true  wealth  and  greatness  in  greater 
profusion  than  ever  was  enjoyed  by  any  other  nation: 
not  only  these  natural  advantages,  but  blessed  with  a 
government  founded  in  freedom — securing  the  liberty  of 
conscience — liberty  of  speech — and  so  wisely  organized 
that  the  state  governments  guard  and  protect  our  most 
minute  interests  and  wants — while  at  the  same  time,  these 
States  stand  United  for  all  national  purposes-^-must  all 
these  inconceivable  blessings  be  sacrificed— -for  freedom 
on  the  soil  /" 


74  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

"  Ah  me !  uncle,  man  is  a  mystery.  When  I  contemplate 
even  the  possibility  of  such  a  horrible  issue  to  our  Union 
as  you  have  insinuated,  befalling  this  beloved  country — 
intended  to  be  an  Eden  for  all  the  oppressed  sons  of  our 
race — the  white  family  of  earth.  Here  I  had  hoped  all 
could  have  come,  and  mingled  together  in  the  sweetest 
harmony.  Here  at  least  'we  could  have  worshiped  God 
under  our  own  vine  and  fig-tree,  and  there  would  have 
been  none  to  make  us  afraid.  But  here  in  this  broad 
expanded  Continent — washed  by  the  grandest  rivers — 
diversified  with  the  tallest  mountains — blessed  with  the 
most  luxuriant  soil,  and  invigorating  climate — Africa  was 
Buffered  to  send  out  a  branch  of  her  race — to  convert  all 
our  joys  into  bitterness — like  the  serpent  which  crept  into 
and  the  garden, 'brought  deadi  into  our  world,  and  all  our 
woe.' " 

"  I  do  not  know,  David,  what  may  be  the  issue  of  this 
crisis  in  our  National  affairs.  Futurity  has  been  very 
wisely  concealed  from  our  vision.  If  such  a  calamity  be 
in  reservation  for  our  country,  I  do  not  crave  to  know  it 
beforehand,  for  '  sufficient  for  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof.' " 


CHAPTER    XI. 

The  grounds  of  Controversy  between  North  and  South. 

"THE  charge  of  aggression  on  the  part  of  the  South, 
David,  I  wish  farther  to  notice.  Much  has  been  said  and 
written  against  her  encroachments — c  the  tyranny  of  the 
Slave-power.'  I  feel  a  disposition  to  do  justice  to  both  sec 
tions,  if  I  can,  in  this  unpleasant  controversy.  Perhaps  by 
mutual  explanations  a  reconciliation  may  be  effected. 
Free-Soilism  wishes  and  intends  to  confine  Slavery  to 
its  present  limits  ;  thereby  excluding  it  from  any  of 
the  Territories  of  the  United  States." 

"In  opposition,  the  South  contends,  these  Territories 
having  been  acquired  by  the  joint  efforts  and  treasury  of 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  75 

the  Nation,  they  ought  to  be  subject  to  occupation  and 
settlement  by  the  citizens  of  the  whole  Union — that  one 
and  all  who  are  disposed,  should  be  admitted  to  come  in 
with  whatever  is  held  to  be  property  in  their  respective 
states — that  whenever  a  Territory  is  sufficiently  populated 
to  entitle  it  to  form  a  Constitution  and  become  a  State, 
the  inhabitants  thereof  ought  to  be  permitted  to  decide 
for  themselves  whether  they  will  have  Slavery  or  not?" 

"  To  that  plan,  uncle,  I  cannot  see  any  valid  objection. 
African  slavery  being  recognized  by  nearly  half  the  States 
in  the  Union,  the  citizens  of  those  States,  on  that  account, 
ought  not  to  be  excluded.  How  invidious  —  not  to  say 
ungenerous  —  for  the  North  to  say  to  the  South,  'Stand 
thou  back  —  I  am  more  righteous  than  thou!'  By  the 
laws  of  Moses  the  leper  was  thrown  out  of  the  congrega 
tion  of  the  Lord — he  was  considered  impure.  Slavery  is 
considered  a  great  lepros}r  —  so  much  so  it  must  not  be 
suffered  to  contaminate  the  Territories." 

"  Shameful  it  is,  David,  to  make  such  discrimination. 
What  will  be  its  ellect  ?  Clearly  to  suffer  the  North  to 
appropriate  the  whole  of  the  public  domain  to  its  exclu 
sive  use  and  benefit.  This  would  be,  in  my  humble  judg 
ment,  great  injustice.  I  am  decidedly  of  opinion  that  Con 
gress  ought  to  leave  the  Territories  free  for  all  the  citizens 
of  the  various  States,  without  any  reference  to  Slavery- 
whatever.  In  this  way  the  common  property  of  the 
Union  would  enure  to  the  common  benefit  of  all.  This 
equality  would  work  no  injury,  but  would  leave  each 
section  on  the  same  identical  footing." 

"The  South,  uncle,  asks  for  nothing  more.  She  scorns 
to  ask  any  legislation  in  her  favor,  or  peculiar  privileges 
from  the  national  government.  She  is  willing  to  stand 
or  fall  by  a  fair  arid  honorable  competition  with  the  North 
in  the  settlement  of  the  Territories.  Why  should  there 
be  any  objection  to  this  arrangement  —  founded,  as  it  is, 
upon  a  principle  of  self-government  so  consonant  to  the 
genius  of  our  people  ?" 

"  The  principle,  David,  ought  to  meet  with  general 
approbation  and  acquiescence.  By  this  means  the  dan 
gerous  question  of  Slavery  is  transferred  from  the  Imlls 
of  Congress  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Territories  to  whom 


76  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

it  properly  belongs.     What  damage  can  result  from  it,  is 
past  my  comprehension." 

"  But  it  appears,  uncle,  the  establishment  of  this  prin 
ciple,  by  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill  and 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  line,  has  created 
deep  exasperation  in  the  minds  of  the  people  North. 
Now,  according  to  my  limited  understanding,  the  cause 
was  inadequate  to  rouse  such  a  bitter  feeling.  Free-Soil- 
ism  now  rears  its  potent  head  and  overshadows  the  land. 
Rather  than  see  slavery  extended  beyond  its  present 
limits,  it  would  dissolve  the  Union.  If  it  were  possible, 
it  would  throw  around  slavery  a  Chinese  wall,  so  that  it 
should  never  expand  in  the  least.  To  this  point  the  eyes 
of  the  North  are  most  intensely  directed  —  watching  it 
with  inconceivable  jealousy." 

"That  is  very  true,  David,  and  why  is  it  so  ?  Does  it 
all  flow  from  philanthropy  only,  or  genuine  love  for  the 
African  race  ?  Whoever  supposes  that  their  freedom  is 
the  sole  motive,  labors  under  a  great  delusion.  I  grant 
this  is  the  ostensible  object — the  one  that  stands  front  in 
all  their  blustering;  but,  really,  I  imagine  there  is  a 
deeper  design  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  movement. 
Stripped  of  all  disguises,  perhaps  after  all,  it  will  be 
found  a  contest  for  power — for  supremacy." 

"Ah  !  uncle,  is  that  the  undercurrent  to  this  vast  agi 
tation  ?  How  much  like  human  nature !  How  seldom 
the  true  motive  to  our  actions  is  avowed  !  Nations,  like 
individuals,  keep  the  real  object  in  view  concealed.  As 
one  person,  the  minds  of  the  multitude  are  swayed  by 
envy  and  jealousy — there  is  no  perceptible  difference." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  that,  David.  It  has  been  exem 
plified  in  all  ages,  and  in  illustration  of  it  an  instance  is 
occurring  in  our  day.  Who  can  believe  that  pure  philan 
thropy,  on  the  part  of  England  and  France,  involved 
them  in  this  Eastern  war  now  violently  raging.  It  was 
not  the  love  of  the  Turk  that  induced  them  to  embark  in 
this  expensive  and  sanguinary  conflict.  What  could  be 
found  in  his  character  to  endear  him  so  tenderly  to  those 
two  enlightened  and  Christian  nations  ?" 

"1  imagine,  uncle,  it  was  not  polygamy  or  their  reli 
gion.  Who  can  admire  such  bigoted  blockheads  as  those 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  77 

Turks  are  ?  How  very  contemptuously  they  speak  of 
Christians  —  calling  them  dogs,  as  though  there  was  no 
word  derogatory  enough  to  express  their  abhorrence  of  us. 
I  confess  I  would  not  like  to  ber 'found  fighting  side  by 
side  with  such  people.  I  would  not  regret  if  that  demo 
ralized  race,  with  all  their  harems,  were  expelled  from 
Europe." 

"  Neither  would  France  or  England,  David,  if  there 
were  not  a  grander  object  to  be  attained.  The  Czar  of 
all  the  Russias  was  about  to  subjugate  and  annex  Turkey 
to  his  vast  empire,  thereby  making  himself  too  powerful 
for  the  safety  of  Europe.  To  circumscribe  Russia,  to 
confine  her  dimensions,  and  not  to  suffer  her  to  grow,  was 
considered  essential  to  the  peace  and  security  of  other 
nations.  The  grand  prize  in  contest  between  the  present 
belligerents  is  no  less  than  the  supremacy  of  Europe." 

"  The  Northern  sentiment,  uncle,  is  haughty  and  impe 
rious.  Here  in  the  United  States,  one  would  fondly  hope 
the  controversy  between  the  two  sections  will  not  have  so 
bloody  an  issue  as  has  transpired  in  the  East.  But  if  we 
look  at  the  elements  at  work  —  the  pride,  ambition,  and 
self-sufficiency  of  the  North,  we  have  little  ground  to  hope 
for  domestic  tranquillity  in  our  country.  Too  much  confi 
dence  is  placed  upon  the  internal  weakness  of  the  South. 
Free-Soilers  come  boasting  like  Goliah  of  old  when  he 
viewed  David,  a  mere  stripling,  advancing  to  meet  him 
with  a  few  pebbles  from  the  creek,  4 1  will  throw  thy  car 
cass  a  prey  to  the  birds  of  the  air.'  We  are  informed  by 
the  divine  historian  what  his  presumption  cost  him  —  he 
was,  as  a  vile  Philistine,  laid  low  in  the  dust  by  one  of 
those  despised  little  pebbles." 

"  The  battle,  David,  is  not  always  won  by  the  strong, 
nor  the  race  by  the  swift.  Amid  all  this  vituperation,  the 
South  is  passive,  like  one  conscious  of  his  prowess  and 
bravery.  She  stands,  like  the  sturdy  oak,  unyielding  to 
the  raging  storm.  She  knows  her  political  rights,  and 
knowing,  will  dare  maintain  them.  Can  she  be  intimi 
dated  by  pointing  to  her  own  slaves  as  the  allies  of  Free- 
Soilism?  The  intimation  has  been  boldly  proclaimed. 
What !  threaten  to  arm  the  slaves  to  slaughter  our  women 
and  children  in  cold  blood  —  to  excite  them  to  a  war  of 


78 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 


extermination  —  for  such  a  war  it  would  be  —  not  of  the 
whites  verily,  but  of  themselves!  We  have  been  fore 
warned  that  Free-Soilers  would  unite  with  the  negroes 
South.  Ought  such  a  threat  be  lightly  made?  Is  it  a 
trifling  matter  to  hint  the  probability  of  such  a  Union. 
The  author,  it  is  presumed,  spoke  it  not  idly  but  from 
full  authority.  He  sees  and  knows  the  hostile  designs 
of  Free-Soilism.  Ah  !  the  great  misfortune  of  the  North 
is,  she  does  not  truly  appreciate  the  strength  and 
resources  of  the  South." 

44  Yes,  indeed,  uncle,  she  thinks  we  are  weak  and  pusil 
lanimous — that  4  we  may  kick  in  the  traces,  but  will  be 
sure  to  fall  back  again.'*  How  often  have  the  most 
destructive  wars  thus  originated  ?  England  thought  these 
colonies  would  only  'kick  in  the  traces' — they  were  too 
•weak  to  resist — she  could  not  believe  they  would  rise  in 
rebellion  to  her  tyrannical  power.  How  could  she  sup 
pose  three  millions  of  people  would  successfully  withstand 
her  in  the  zenith  of  her  strength  and  glory !  Proud, 
haughty,  despotic,  she  would  listen  to  no  remonstrance, 
nor  make  any  concession.  She  sent  over  her  armies — - 
took  into  her  alliance  the  merciless  savage,  whose  known 
rule  of  warfare  was  the  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  every 
sex,  age,  and  condition.  But  notwithstanding  these  fear 
ful  odds.  England,  in  the  end,  had  to  make  the  humiliat 
ing  acknowledgment,  c  that  these  United  States,  by  the 
laws  of  nature  and  of  nature's  God,  were,  and  of  right, 
ought  to  be,  free  and  independent.'  This  is  a  very  strik 
ing  instance,  how  dangerous  it  is  to  think  too  lightly  of 
an  adversary." 

u  Strange  infatuation  it  must  be,  David,  to  suppose 
fifteen  States  of  this  Union  will  tamely  submit  to  a 
Northern  Despotism. — Look  at  the  South — I  mean  by 
that  word  the  whole  slave-holding  region,  from  Mason 
arid  Dixon's  line  to  the  utmost  limits  of  Texas — and  what 
floes  it  embrace  ?  The  finest  portion  of  North  America. 
Think  of  its  valuable  products  :  cotton,  sugar,  rice,  hemp, 
and  tobacco — five  of  the  most  valuable  products  raised  in 
the  world.  It  has  been  truly  said — COTTON  is  KINO. 


•Ford,  at  Columbus,  0. 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  79 

What  is  its  annual  worth  in  a  raw  state  ?  A  fraction 
over  a  100,000,000  of  dollars.  Here,  then,  is  the  origin 
of  immense  wealth.  How  much  money  does  it  bring  in 
its  transit  from  the  producer  to  the  consumer — to  the 
agents,  insurers,  shippers,  manufacturers,  and  merchants 
who  handle  it  ?" 

"  I  can  hardly  tell,  uncle,  what  wealth  is  realized  by 
tracing  cotton  through  all  the  mutations  you  have  men 
tioned  ;  but  I  do  suppose  all  those  through  whose  hands  it 
may  pass,  in  its  progress  to,  and  preparation  for  consump 
tion,  will  enjoy  a  remuneration  for  their  labor,  trouble, 
and  attention.  What  additional  value  cotton  receives 
in  this  transit,  and  the  process  of  manufacture,  I  do  not 
remember  to  have  seen.  Those  who  have  been  more 
observant  of  commerce  might  make  an  estimate  approxi 
mating  near  the  truth." 

u  I  can  cite  the  authority,  David,  of  no  less  a  personage 
than  WALKER,  formerly  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  tho 
United  States,  under  the  administration  of  his  Excellency, 
JAMES  K.  POLK,  now  no  more.  His  idea  was  that  cotton 
was  enhanced  eightfold  in  the  process  and  mutations  men 
tioned.  Taking  his  estimate  as  a  basis,  look  at  the  aston 
ishing  result:  first  cost,  $100,000,000;  final  value,  $800,- 
000,000.  The  actual  wealth,  therefore,  created  by  cotton, 
and  realized  by  the  industry  of  others,  after  leaving  the 
possession  of  the  planters,  makes  the  grand  sum  of  $700,- 
000,000.  Thus  we  have  the  value  of  cotton  in  its  raw  state, 
and  just  at  the  time  it  enters  into  consumption.  Destroy 
its  production,  and  the  business  of  the  world  will  be  sud 
denly  deprived  of  an  article  producing,  at  this  time,  such 
immense  wealth.  Now,  who  is  prepared  to  sacrifice  so 
much  productive  industry  by  devastating  the  South — 
burning  her  cotton  fields,  and  turning  loose  her  slaves  to 
b  j  a  curse  and  nuisance  to  society  ?  Instead  of  having  a 
system  of  labor,  wisely  and  judiciously  arranged — a<^  at 
present — the  motto  will  be,  ^  freedom  on  the  soil?  And 
at  one  fell  blow,  the  product  of  cotton  will  be  struck  down, 
and  will  almost  cease." 

wt  1  am  certain,  uncle,  such  would  be  the  fact.  Now 
only  think  of  the  suicidal  policy  of  Abolitionism.  Well 
may  it  raise  its  brazen  head,  and  proclaim  to  mankind  its 


ABOLITIONISM    DNVEILED. 

utter  contempt  of  '  consequences?  What  cares  it  if  cotton 
be  struck  from  the  earth — if  misery  and  ruin  fall  upon  the 
millions  now  engaged  in  its  manufacture  ?  I  can  com 
pare  it  to  nothing  better  than  a  stream  rising  in  the 
mountainous  regions  of  a  country,  fed  and  supplied  by 
innumerable  springs,  that  tumbled  their  waters  along 
rocky  vales,  to  a  general  reservoir  that  conveyed  them  to 
the  ocean.  For  years  it  ran — its  volume  of  water  gradu 
ally  increasing.  In  its  meandering  route  it  passes  through 
fertile  valleys — the  people  seeing  the  uniformity  of  its  cur 
rent,  and  the  many  falls  it  encountered  in  its  course,  pro 
ceed  to  erect  mills  and  factories  all  along  its  banks.  At 
great  cost  they  have  erected  their  establishments — and 
millions  of  operatives  are  employed  at  fair  wages.  These 
persons  are  living  independently  and  happily,  and  blessed 
with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  But  lo  !  the  news  comes  by 
telegraph  that,  by  incantations,  a  set  of  fanatics  have  suc 
ceeded  in  drying  up  all  the  springs  at  the  fountain  head, 
and  that  this  water-power  will  soon  entirely  fail.  The 
water  ceases  to  flow,  and  the  multitude,  with  the  deepest 
anguish,  behold  the  dry  bed  of  a  once  flush  river.  The 
factories  are  all  still — in  place  of  the  busy  hum  of  indus 
try,  we  hear  wailing  and  lamentation.  The  operatives  are 
deprived  of  employment — their  wages  cease,  and  they 
know  not  what  to  do.  But  the  master-spirit,  in  produc 
ing  this  distress,  is  made  acquainted  with  these  ;  conse 
quences.''  He  sternly  replies,  l  Consequences  I  never  re 
gard —  that  is  no  part  of  my  business — if  millions  are 
ruined,  I  can't  help  it — I  thought  it  right  to  dry  up  the 
springs  and  I  have  done  so.  My  eye  is  on  one  solitary 
object,  and  I  never  look  beyond  it.'  In  a  similar  manner, 
if  Abolitionism  could  have  its  way,  the  raising  of  cotton 
would  be  annihilated.  Then  the  millions  relying  for  sub 
sistence  by  its  manufacture,  would  be  turned  penniless 
upon  the  cold  charities  of  the  world." 

"  True  as  Scripture,  David,  Yankeedom  would  open  ita 
eyes !  What  constitutes  the  wealth  of  the  Eastern  States  ? 
Go  to  Massachusetts  —  the  hot-bed  of  fanaticism  —  the 
people  there  will  point  to  their  rocky  and  sterile  soil,  and 
you  will  confess  their  wealth  is  not  dug  out  of  the  ground. 
Whence  is  it  derived  ?  By  manufacturing  industry  and 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  81 

commercial  enterprise.  Now  here  is  a  pound  of  cotton  : 
the  planter,  we'  will  suppose,  gets  ten  cents  for  raising, 
picking,  ginning  and  pressing  it.  Trace  it  to  Boston.  Here 
the  manufacturer  examines  its  quality,  and  buys  it,  we  will 
say,  at  twelve  cents.  Takes  it  to  his  factory.  Now  his 
labor  upon  it  commences — carding,  spinning,  weaving,  etc. 
It  is  by  this  process  converted  into  either  sheeting,  calico, 
or  muslin,  as  his  fancy  suggests.  How  much  has  this 
pound  of  cotton  been  enhanced  by  his  labor  and  machinery? 
we  will  say  sixty  cents,  leaving  a  margin  for  profit 
by  the  wholesale  and  retail  merchants,  through  whose 
hands  it  must  pass  to  the  consumer.  Note  the  difference 
in  the  profit.  The  planter  has  ten  cents  to  show  for  the 
production  and  preparation  of  that  pound  for  market ;  the 
manufacturer  sixty  cents,  or  in  other  words,  that  pound 
of  cotton  has  enriched  Mississippi  ten  cents,  Massachu 
setts  sixty.  At  the  wealth  of  the  latter  need  we  to  won 
der  ?  Without  the  cotton  that  sixty  cents  never  would 
have  been  made.  Upon  a  large  scale,  behold  what  a 
strange  story  this  will  tell." 

u  Fanaticism,  uncle,  is  surely  blind.  I  have  read,  I 
think,  in  one  of  ^Esop's  fables,  of  a  farmer,  who  had  a 
goose  which  laid  him  daily  a  golden  egg.  Not  content 
with  this  slow  mode  of  acquiring  wealth,  he  cut  her  open, 
so  that  he  might  come  at  the  whole  treasury  at  once. 
That  was  the  end  of  the  eggs  and  the  goose,  and  his 
wealth.  The  South  is  now  laying  the  golden  eggs  by 
which  the  North  is  enriched.  We  will  see  whether  the 
latter  is  prepared  to  destroy  the  source  of  her  principal 
prosperity,  and  entail  upon  herself  poverty  and  ruin." 

"  These  things  are  as  plain  as  the  common  rules  of 
Arithmetic.  The  North  has  4  waxed  fat,'  and  begins  '  to 
kick,'  and  upon  what  ?  Upon  those  very  golden  eggs 
laid  in  the  South.  For  feeding  the  goose,  and  keeping 
her  in  health  and  vigor,  we,  I  speak  in  the  name  of  the 
South,  have  retained  for  our  labor  and  investment,  one 
dollar  out  of  eight,  and  very  generously  handed  over  the 
other  seven  to  the  North,  for  her  exclusive  use  and 
benefit.  How  plain  it  must  be  whence  the  immense 
wealth  of  the  New  England  States  has  been  accumulated. 
Well  may  the  people  in  that  section  boast  of  their  public 


82  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

improvements,  their  Free  Schools,  their  Railroads,  their 
large  and  nourishing  cities,  etc.,  when  nearly  all  the  pro 
fits  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  in  the  United  States  are 
concentrated  in  their  hands,  great  as  those  profits  are. 
Now  for  those  very  people  to  wage  implacable  hostility  to 
the  South,  against  that  '  peculiar  institution  '  that  has 
brought  forth  these  golden  eggs,  indeed  shows  a  degree 
of  madness  and  folly  without  a  parallel  in  history.  Noth 
ing  short  of  the  most  frantic  fanaticism  could,  ibr  a  mo 
ment,  conceive  a  project  fraught  with  such  incalculable 
evil  to  the  North,  and*  in  reality  to  the  civilized  world." 

fct  Well  may  you  declare  that,  uncle.  New  England 
manufactures  but  a  small  portion  of  the  cotton  raised 
South.  Old  England,  shame  upon  her,  is  reveling  in 
wealth  from  this  very  source.  Millions  of  her  subjects 
are  fed  and  clothed  from  the  profits  made  in  the  manufac 
ture  of  our  cotton.  Her  great  national  debt  would,  long 
ago,  have  crushed  her  to  atoms,  had  it  not  been  for  this 
very  staple.  She  is  the  principal  purchaser  of  cotton, 
and  enjoys  most  of  the  money  created  by  its  manu 
facture." 

"  Let  us  see,  David,  how  the  3,625,000  bales  were  dis 
tributed  in  1853.  Great  Britain  took  2.000,000,  France 
400,000,  New  England  635,000.  Put  the  original  cost 
at  $40  per  bale,  probably  that  may  be  too  much,  but  for 
our  purpose  it  is  not  very  material.  Make  the  calculation 
in  round  numbers :  Great  Britain  paid  the  South  for  raw 
material  880,000,000.  According  to  Walkers  rule,  she 
will  acquire  additional  wealth  by  the  manufacture  of  this 
cotton,  at  the  lowest  calculation,  after  deducting  profits 
in  the  hands  of  foreign  factors,  not  less  than  $500,000,000 
actual  real  wealth,  as  effectually  as  if  extracted  by  agri 
culture  from  the  earth.  This  unfolds  the  secret  of  her 
great  and  unexampled  prosperity.  London  governs  the 
world  in  money  matters  —  it  is  the  center  of  capital,  of 
commerce,  and  regulates  the  prices  of  commodities  in  all 
the  principal  markets  of  the  earth.  Though  Great  Brit 
ain  is  thus  prospering  upon  this  product  of  slave  labor, 
yet.  is  she  the  focus  of  Abolitionism  ;  she  has  fostered  it, 
and  sustained  the  excitement  here  by  her  influence  and 
her  money,  as  I  have  partially,  and  will  hereafter  more 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  83 

fully  show.  Serious  charges,  but  they  are  no  less  serious 
thai)  true." 

u  Then,  uncle,  think  of  the  Free  States,  how  many 
millions  of  dollars  we  are  annually  throwing  into  their 
laps.  Notice  the  profits  on  the  cotton.  625,000  bales, 
deducting  cost,  $2,500,000,  we  have  left  the  sum  of 
817.500,000,  a  very  handsome  remuneration  for  the  man 
ufacturing  States,  a  portion  of  which,  I  presume,  finds  its 
way  into  the  treasury  of  Abolition  societies." 

"That  is  likely  true,  David;  but  these  facts  ought  to 
establish  the  necessity  of  preserving  this  Union.  The 
present  settled  order  of  society  should  not  be  disturbed 
while  it  is  diffusing  mutual  benefits  by  the  interchange  of 
commodities.  I  have  not  adduced  these  statistics  of  trade 
as  an  accusation  against  the  North  ;  but  it  has  been  done 
chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  showing  the  source  whence 
their  principal  wealth  is  derived.  No  one  objects  to  the 
sale  of  cotton  to  the  manufacturers  North,  but  what  we 
do  complain  of  is,  they  forget  the  hand  that  nourishes 
them.  To  the  Southern  planters  are  they  chiefly  indebted 
for  their  great  prosperity.  Stop  the  cultivation  of  cotton,  and 
how  could  those  millions  of  dollars  be  made  ?  If  I  might 
address  myself  to  the  people  in  that  section,  I  would  tell 
them,  without  the  raw  material,  your  jennies,  your  looms, 
your  machinery  would  all  stop,  and  your  operatives  be  de 
prived  of  work.  Your  Lowells  would  be  deserted.  And 
what  shall  I  say  to  thee,  Old  England,  where  wouldst 
thou  be?  Thy "$500,000,000  of  annual  wealth  swept 
away  forever.  Ruin  and  bankruptcy  would  be  thy  fate. 
The  immense  load  of  debt  incurred  by  thee  would  crush 
thee  to  the  earth  never  more  to  rise.  If  I  were  an  enemy 
to  thee  and  the  Free  States,  I  would  say  go  on  in  this  bitter 
crusade  against  African  Slavery ;  kindle  the  fires  of  civil 
war  ;  emancipate  the  slaves  ;  arm  them  for  the  butchery 
of  their  owners  and  their  families  ;  let  *,he  Free-Soilers 
come  on,  and  aid  them  in  this  grand  work  of  extermina 
tion  ;  thus  display  your  intense  love  for  the  negro  by  the 
wholesale  massacre  of  your  kindred  after  the  flesh  ; 
envelop  our  dwellings  in  flames ;  convert  our  cotton 
and  sugar  estates  into  a  wilderness  ;  erase  our  cities 


84  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

from  the  earth,  until,  like  Carthage  of  old,  no  memorial 
will  be  left  to  identify  the  spots  where  once  they  stood. 
When  the  work  of  pillage,  devastation,  and  rapine  is  over, 
hug  your  black  allies  to  your  bosom  for  this  wondrous 
achievement.  And  then,  what  has  been  gained  ?  The 
Anglo-Saxon  race  has  been  slaughtered,  and  there  is  now 
1  freedom  on  the  soil.'  These  three  millions  of  Africans 
can  remain  and  inhabit  the  land — it  is  their  heritage.  I 
want  every  Free-Soiler  in  the  land  to  gaze  on  this  picture, 
view  its  beautiful  outlines — is  it  too  highly  wrought — have 
not  your  frenzied  imaginations  seen  it  all,  and  more  too, 
in  the  perspective  ? 

"I  would  say  to  Mrs.  Stowe,  'Come  up  and  see  here 
the  fruits  of  c  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin'  —  ay,  it  is  said,  4  The 
works  of  the  righteous  do  follow  themV  These  are  thy 
works,  and  they  will  surely  follow  thee.  Remember  thy 
George.  What  did  he  display  to  the  good  and  timid  old 
Wilson  ? — a  bowie-knife  and  pistols.  These  instruments 
have  done  the  deed,  and  now  cast  thy  eyes  upon  the  car 
nage  !  Ask  thyself,  if  this  is  '  good-will  toward  men  — 
peace  on  earth  !'  But  thou  art  comforted  with  the  thought 
that  thy  head  has  reclined  upon  downy  pillows  in  the 
mansion  of  Lady  SUTHERLAND  —  that  thou  hast  been  the 
guest  of  dukes  and  duchesses  —  that  thou  hast  moved  in 
rustling  silks,  trod  proudly  on  soft,  resplendent  Turkish 
carpets,  inhaled  sparkling  wine  out  of  golden  goblets, 
and  feasted  with  all  the  dainty  luxuries  a  foreign  land 
could  afford ;  because  thou  hadst  blackened  the  charac 
ter  of  thy  native  land,  and  scattered  the  seeds  of  discord 
between  races  —  the  fruits  of  which  I  have  only  faintly 
delineated.  All  the  negro  characters  introduced  into  thy 
work  are  brave,  generous,  noble,  and  religious — the  very 
climax  of  beauty  and  mental  greatness ;  but  look  at  the 
masters,  negro-traders,  and  hunters — they  are  dastardly — 
cruel  pirates  and  bloodhounds!' 

"  '  Stand  up  SUMNER,  WILSON,  SEWARD,  CHASE,  and  all 
Free-Soil  worthies !  Look  with  admiration  at  the  consum 
mation  of  all  your  strenuous  efforts  —  the  great  work,  for 
which  you  have  so  long  toiled,  is  all  finished  to  your 
liking!  the  negro  has  been  made  the  masterpiece  of  God's 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  85 

creation,  and  although  Africa  has  come  in  last,  she  may 
yet,  according  to  Mrs.  STOWE'S  anticipation,  outshine  the 
balance  of  the  world!' ': 

u  I  do  not  know,  uncle,  what  has  kept  Africa  station 
ary.  She  is  as  old  and  as  long  inhabited.  What  excuse 
can  be  offered  for  her  want  of  progress  ?  Who  has  inter 
fered  with  her?  The  white  man  cannot  long  breathe  her 
atmosphere  and  live.  If  the  negro  can  drive  the  whites 
out  of  other  climates  he  has  a  perfect  immunity  in  his 
own.  God  has  formed  the  country  and  climate  in  Africa 
for  the  exclusive  residence  of  his  race.  There  he  is  lord 
paramount ;  an  edict,  positive  and  immutable,  has  gone 
forth  that  there  he  shall  dwell  without  intrusion  from  the 
European.  He  holds  a  deed  in  fee-simple  to  that  portion 
of  the  earth  against  the  balance  of  mankind.  The  Lord 
has  fenced  him  in  with  a  hot  and  poisonous  air  to  all 
others  but  himself.  This  is  equivalent  to  a  deed  of  gene 
ral  warrantee." 

'•If  mankind,  David,  would  conform  more  to  the  laws 
of  God  in  some  respects,  the  general  happiness  would  be 
greatly  promoted.  That  he  has  so  constituted  the  negroes 
as  to  adapt  them  to  reside  and  labor  in  the  tropical 
regions  of  the  earth,  I  believe  with  all  sincerity.  The 
great  Architect  of  the  Universe,  in  all  his  works  displays 
consummate  wisdom.  Animals  have  been  made  and 
fitted  for  certain  localities.  Notice  the  pelican,  provided 
with  a  pouch  under  his  bill.  Why  was  that  done  ?  Simply 
because  that  bird  soared  over  arid  deserts  where  water 
was  seldom  to  be  had,  and  in  that  pouch  he  could  carry  a 
supply  to  last  him  many  days.  Again  we  may  notice  a 
contrivance  has  been  given  to  the  camel  to  enable  him  to 
pass  over  the  great  African  desert.  How  wisely  and 
judiciously  have  all  things  been  made ! 

"In  illustration  of  this  position  I  will  cite  another 
instance.  I  saw  once  a  little  fish  taken  out  of  the  river 
running  through  the  Mammoth  Cave,  in  this  State.  At 
first  I  was  surprised  at  its  destitution  of  sight — an  organ 
that  affords  us  so  much  pleasure ;  but  I  quickly  reflected, 
what  utility  could  there  be  in  eyes  where  there  was  utter 
and  perpetual  darkness.  For  this  reason  they  were  not 
given.  If,  in  these  instances  of  inferior  animals,  we  can 


86  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

see  such  complete  adaptation  to  the  localities  they  were 
intended  to  inhabit,  how  much  more  strongly  ought  we 
to  believe  that  man's  form  and  organization  have  been 
somewhat  varied  to  enable  him  to  be  a  resident  of  every 
zone  upon  earth?" 

"  Upon  that  point,  uncle,  I  have  not  reflected  a  great 
deal.  From  the  instances  cited,  I  am  satisfied  Divinity 
has  created  and  adjusted  all  things  for  our  good.  The 
torrid  zones  are  intended  for  the  negroes,  and  the  negroes 
for  them.  The  temperate,  for  the  whites.  Hero  is  ample 
space  for  all.  Although  the  negroes  are  the  only  laborers 
that  can  be  successfully  employed  in  the  cultivation  of  our 
southern  staples — because  they  and  they  only  are  capable 
of  bearing  the  heat  of  summer  and  the  diseases  of  the 
climate — yet,  from  the  very  nature  of  things,  they  must 
continue  under  the  control  and  authority  of  the  whites  to 
make  their  labor  really  productive.  The  two  races  can 
and  do  live  amicably  together  in  their  present  relation; 
and  they  may  continue  to  do  so  for  ages,  for  aught  I 
know.  The  idea  that  the  inferior  can  dispossess  the 
superior  race  is  perfectly  ludicrous.  Nothing  but  the 
wildest  fanaticism  could  indulge  in  such  a  chimera." 

"  I  just  permitted,  David,  for  the  moment,  Free-Soilism 
to  have  its  own  way  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  what  a 
strange  problem  it  would  work  out.  What  a  great  trans 
formation  would  northern  fanaticism  make  in  the  mission 
of  this  mighty  nation.  Free-Soilism  threatens  to  unite  with 
the  negroes  South,  and  I  drew  the  picture  to  gratify  their 
fervid  imaginations.  What  a  wondrous  work  they  would 
perform  to  create  '  freedom  on  the  soil.'  I  am  thoroughly 
convinced  that,  before  this  grand  scheme  of  theirs  can  be 
achieved,  our  race  South  must  be  exterminated.  To  say 
the  least  of  it,  this  is  a  most  gigantic  undertaking.  The 
Northern  hive,  with  their  black  allies,  may  flatter  them 
selves  they  will  prove  equal  to  the  task.  If  1  might  be 
permitted  to  judge,  however,  they  would  commit  a  most 
lamentable  error.  Old  as  I  am,  I  would  bare  my  breast 
to  the  storm,  and  stand  or  fall  beside  my  countrymen  in 
defending  and  sustaining  our  saered  political  rights.  But 
God  forbid  the  emergency  should  ever  arise  between  the 
people  of  the  United  States!  I  dare  not  —  I  will  not 


AEOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  87 

believe  our  glorious  destiny  is  to  be  brought  to  such  a 
premature  end." 

"I  trust  such  may  be  the  fact,  uncle ;  but  I  have  pre 
cious  little  faith  in  fanaticism.  Who  could  have  stayed 
the  Crusades  in  their  mad  career?  The  voice  of  the 
wisest  and  best  men  of  that  day  could  not  have  swayed 
the  minds  of  the  multitude.  So  it  has  been  with  this 
dangerous  and  reckless  spirit  engendered  in  our  once 
happy  country.  From  small  beginnings  it  has  grown  to 
its  present  menacing  magnitude.  Vain  have  been  the 
struggles  to  stay  its  march.  Perhaps  naught  but  the  effu 
sion  of  oceans  of  blood  will  be  able  to  cure  this  fatal  mal 
ady.  So  it  was  in  the  Crusades — so  it  may  possibly  bo 
again.  The  same  demon  is  at  work,  and  may  not  the 
same  bloody  butcheries  result,  not  as  formerly  between 
Christian  and  Turk,  but  between  Christian  and  Chris 
tian — fellow-citizens  too,  of  one  common  country." 

u  If  the  salvation  of  this  country,  David,  depended 
upon  the  prominent  leaders  of  Free-Soilism,  I  would  give 
up  the  question  in  despair.  My  pen,  from  this  day  on 
ward,  should  cease  to  move.  From  them  I  hope — I  expect 
nothing.  But  there  is  a  public  sentiment  North  that  can 
be  invoked,  and  not  in  vain.  There  are  people  in  that 
section — thousands  of  them — with  strong  national  feel 
ings,  who  will  come  to  the  rescue,  when  they  see  and 
know  this  Union  is  in  imminent  peril.  They  will  frown 
down  the  attempt  l  to  alienate  one  portion  of  this  Union 
from  the  other.'  Now  we  only  ask  the  faithful  observance 
of  the  Compact  entered  into  by  the  States — a  compact 
standing  higher,  and  towering  above  all  others — the  su 
preme,  irrepealable  compact,  unless  by  mutual  consent, 
or  in  the  mode  and  manner  indicated  by  the  instrument 
itself. 

"  Are  we  wrong  in  requiring  a  strict  adherence  to  the 
compromises  of  the  Constitution — a  Constitution  which 
flowed  from  the  spontaneous  action  of  sovereign  States, 
and  which  remains  as  a  monument  to  the  political  wris- 
dom — the  patriotism  of  the  men  of  that  day  ?  Talk  of 
the  Missouri  Compromise — the  Compromise  of  1850 — of 
plighted  faith — its  sacred  ness  ; — but  what  are  all  these 
worth  compared  to  this  compact — this  ligament  which 


88  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

binds  all  these  sovereignties  into  one  great  nation  !  That 
is  the  Covenant — the  solemn  Covenant,  signed,  sealed,  and 
delivered. 

"Why  plead  subsequent  compromises,  enacted  by  legis 
lative  authority,  as  more  sacred  and  obligatory  than  the 
Constitution  itself?  In  that  instrument  and  amendments 
thereto,  all  the  Compromises  the  States  ever  intended  to 
make  will  be  found.  The  boundary  of  power  is  dis 
tinctly  marked.  By  not  recurring  to  first  principles,  a 
misapprehension  of  our  complicated  system  of  government 
often  originates.  We  are  inclined  to  think  the  National 
Government  has  absolute  and  supreme  authority — in  its 
appropriate  sphere  it  has,  but  beyond,  it  has  not. 
Every  power  it  exercises  must  be  expressly  granted,  or 
necessarily  implied  ;  thus  far  it  may  go — all  else  is  usur 
pation." 

"The  question  of  Slavery,  then,  belongs  to  the  local 
authority,  uncle.  The  States  very  prudently  never  dele 
gated  that  to  the  Federal  Union,  and  hence  it  is  retained. 
This  proposition  is  too  clear  for  controversy.  Admit  the 
evil  of  slavery  to  be  ever  so  great — the  sin,  if  you  please, 
to  be  of  the  most  heinous  nature ;  what  is  that  to  the 
North  ?  The  sin  is  not  hers — the  responsibility  will  not 
be  hers  at  the  throne  of  the  Almighty  ;  because  the  States, 
in  respect  to  this  matter,  are  entirely  independent  of  each 
other — just  as  much  so  as  if  this  Union  had  never  been 
formed." 

"  .Precisely  so,  David.  This  peculiar  institution  is  the 
creature  of  municipal  law.  The  States  where  it  is  estab 
lished,  are  fully  competent  to  modify,  regulate,  or  destroy 
it.  Why  should  the  free  States  undertake  to  coerce  4  free 
dom  on  the  soil  ?'  It  is  not  their  business — it  is  ours  and 
ours  only.  Free-Soilisrn,  with  great  condescension,  yields 
this  point — disavows  any  intention  to  disturb  the  institu 
tion  in  the  present  slave  States,  but  denies  it  the  power 
of  enlargement; — the  idea  of  its  expansion  strikes  their 
minds  with  holy  horror — I  mean  the  prominent  leaders 
of  the  party  North.  I  pass  from  the  declarations  made 
in  our  own  State,  and  will  now  examine  the  justice  and 
propriety  of  excluding  Slavery  from  the  Territories.  Now 
let  us  see  the  effects  of  this  brotherly  policy. 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  89 

•"Whose  territories  are  these?  The  United  States. 
What  constitutes  these  ?  Thirty-one  sovereign  and  equally 
independent  States.  Hence  this  Union  is  theirs — this 
property  is  theirs.  By  what  right  does  the  North  claim  it 
at  all,  though  it  is  property  jointly  acquired — because  she 
is  not  polluted  with  this  accursed  thing,  human  bondage. 
Her  garments  are  pure  and  unspotted,  washed  white  in 
the  blood  of  freedom,  and  therefore,  she  very  modestly 
claims  the  lion's  share— every  acre.  Although  the  Fed 
eral  Government  is  the  agent  of  all  the  States  in  dispos 
ing  of,  and  settling  these  lands,  and  as  such,  has  no  right 
to  make  an  odious  and  unrighteous  discrimination  among 
the  States;  yet  Free-Soilism  would  have  her  to  stand  with 
a  blazing  sword  on  the  margin  of  these  territories,  so  that 
their  virgin  soil  should  never  be  desecrated  by  the  foot  of 
a  slave. 

"  Now  I  will  suppose,  here  comes  a  PURITAN  from  the 
good  old  Bay  State;  the  kind  words  salute  his  ear,  c  Go 
thou  in  and  inhabit  the  laud.'  But  the  welcome  words 
have  hardly  died  away  before,  lo !  there  moves  up  a 
South  Carolinian,  followed  by  a  long  train  of  darkies. 
He  is  forbidden  to  enter  these  fertile  prairies — this  lovely 
country  is  not  for  such  as  you,  it  has  been  consecrated 
to  freedom." 

"  cAm  I  not  a  freeman  ?'  rejoins  he. 

"  '  Oh,  yes  !  but  what  are  these  ?' 

"  l  My  slaves,  sir,  that  I  have  brought  along  to  aid  me 
in  subduing  this  land,  in  cutting  down  the  forest,  in 
turning  up  the  prairies,  and  in  erecting  houses.' 

"  '  I  am,  sir,  required  to  stand  here  as  sentinel  with  a 
flaming  sword,  to  guard  this  delightful  region  from  the 
pollution  of  slavery.' 

"  '  Who  are  you,  thus  interdicting  citizens  of  this  Union 
from  entering  this  territory?' 

"  1 1  am  a  Federal  officer — do  you  not  see  the  stars  and 
stripes  floating  in  the  breeze  ?' 

"  '  I  see  them,  sir,  but  by  your  fiat  one-half  of  them 
nearly  have  lost  their  luster  —  their  brightness  is  gone. 
Go,  tear  down  those  colors  —  rend  that  beautiful  silk  in 
twain  —  it  is  no  longer  an  emblem  of  all  the  States  Vut 
onlv  of  a  part!  The  sixteen  Free  States  are  all  that 
8 


90  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

should  be  there.  You  are  the  agent  of  them,  and  not 
of  the  balance.  If  all  the  States  be  equal  owners  of  this 
rich  and  vast  domain,  how  can  you  disfranchise  nearly 
one-half?' 

" '  By  a  law  of  Congress.' 

" '  But,  sir,  that  law  was  opposed  by  the  united  vote 
of  the  South,  and  passed  over  their  heads  by  an  unscru 
pulous  Free-Soil  majority,  in  violation  of  the  Federal 
Compact.' " 

u  I  must  remark  here,  uncle,  that  if  thirty-one  indivi 
duals  were  to  form  an  Association  for  some  general  pur 
pose  or  business,  and  in  the  Article  of  Agreement  by 
which  they  thus  became  united,  the  parties  were  cautious 
in  stating  clearly  the  terms  and  conditions  upon  which 
they  associated  —  reserving  to  each  one  of  the  firm  full 
control  and  authority  over  his  domestic  affairs,  I  do  not 
see  how  the  general  agency,  thus  created  for  general  pur 
poses,  would  have  any  right  to  pry  into  the  private  affairs 
of  one  or  more  members  thus  combining  —  particularly 
when  a  reservation  was  made  forbidding  such  surveil 
lance.  Now  if,  in  the  prosecution  of  their  business,  such 
firm  were  to  acquire  large  bodies  of  waste  land,  would 
not  such  land  be  held  as  joint-property  ?  Could  sixteen 
of  the  partners  exclude  the  others  from  any  enjoyment  or 
use  of  such  property?  No  court  in  the  United  States 
would  make  a  decree  of  that  character.  Such  a  partition 
would  be  held  to  be  in  contravention  to  all  the  well 
recognized  principles  of  law  and  equity.  'Such  would  be 
the  united  judgment  of  every  jurist  in  the  land." 

"Of  that  I  have  no  doubt,  David  ;  and  yet  the  princi 
ples  of  law  and  equity  ought  to  be  the  same  when  applied 
to  communities  or  States.  I  must  say  there  is  a  striking 
similitude  in  the  form  of  our  government,  to  the  indivi 
duals  composing  the  firm  mentioned.  The  States  have 
retained  the  power  to  manage  their  local  affairs  in  their 
own  way.  In  respect  to  their  municipal  laws  and  regu 
lations  Congress  is  powerless.  Should  Free-labor  be 
adopted  in  one  state,  Slavery  in  another,  it  was  a  matter 
entirely  within  their  jurisdiction.  Should  Illinois  to 
morrow,  establish  Slavery  within  her  limits  —  Kentucky 
the  next  day  abolish  it — the  act,  in  the  one  case  and  in 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  01 

the  other,  would  be  no  violation  of  their  Federal  obli 
gations. 

"  Their  acts  in  such  cases  would  be  perfectly  legitimate. 
Conceding  these  powers  to  the  States,  and  I  believe  the 
most  rabid  Abolitionist  will  not  deny  them,  the  whole 
excitement  seems  confined  to  the  settlement  of  the  Terri 
tories.  The  great  contest,  North,  is  for  the  reinstatement 
of  the  l  Missouri  Compromise'  line,  and  a  positive  inhi 
bition  of  slavery  in  the  Territories.  Upon  these  points 
the  great  fight  is  to  be  made." 

"  I  rejoice,  uncle,  that  you  have  at  last  approached 
questions  that  engross  so  much  of  public  attention.  From 
all  the  information  reaching  us — and  judging  from  the 
newspapers  promiscuously  lying  around,  it  is  no  little — 
there  is  deep  and  intense  excitement  in  the  Free  States, 
growing  out  of  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill 
by  the  "last  Congress.  I  am  anxious  to  find  out  how  far 
the  South  is  guilty  of  those  serious  offenses  laid  to  her 
charge." 

"  f  confess,  David,  I  have  been  a  little  more  tedious  in 
arriving  at  the  Territorial  question  —  for  that  embraces 
the  other  —  than  I  at  first  anticipated.  I  felt  an  anxiety 
to  define  fully  the  powers  of  the  States  under  the  Federal 
Compact — to  unfold  the  nature  and  design  of  our  system 
of  government.  Complex  it  may  be  called  —  thirty-two 
sovereignties  revolving  around  one  common  center  —  the 
focus  of  their  brilliant  light.  THEY  are  the  twinkling 
stars  in  our  political  firmament,  whose  converging  rays 
impart  warmth,  strength,  and  glory  to  the  Union.  May 
their  brilliancy  never  diminish,  but  shine  more  and  more 
c  to  the  perfect  day.' 

"  Instead  of  the  Federal  government  being  the  great 
luminary  of  our  system,  around  which  these  minor 
spheres  are  moving,  it  is  an  opake  body,  and  if  it 
assumes  a  gorgeous  splendor  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  it 
is  from  the  reflected  light  imparted  from  the  galaxy  of 
stars  floating  on  our  flag.  It  is  their  number  and  mag 
nitude  that  give  us  consequence  in  the  estimation  of  the 
nations. 

"  The  States  are  the  pillars  upon  which  this  mighty 
edifice  doth  rest;  its  basis  —  its  foundation.  Oh!  our 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

system  of  government  was  conceived  in  wisdom  —  how 
well  have  all  its  parts  been  arranged  —  how  nicely 
adjusted  !  It  is  the  province  of  the  States,  with  paternal 
care,  to  watch  over  and  guard  the  most  minute  interests 
of  society — not  a  want,  however  trifling,  they  do  not  see 
and  regard.  Thus  all  the  benefits  of  government  are 
made  as  diffusive  as  the  multiplied  and  diversified  rela 
tions  of  society  can  possibly  demand.  Then,  again,  you 
will  find  all  these  States  forming — '  e  pluribus  unum? — 
one  as  to  national  purposes  —  one  as  to  foreign  nations. 
This  oneness  must  not  be  confounded  with  consolidation. 
A  great  central  government,  to  overshadow  the  States 
and  absorb  their  liberties,  was  not  the  kind  intended  to  be 
established.  Nothing  could  be  more  intolerable  than  a 
central  despotism — the  one  I  fear  Free-Soilism  is  aiming 
to  erect  upon  the  ruins  of  the  present  Constitution." 

u  How  beautiful,  uncle,  is  our  plan  of  government 
when  rightly  understood  and  fairly  administered.  Con 
fine  the  National  Government  to  its  legitimate  sphere — 
let  it  foster  all  the  states — know  no  North,  or  South — 
East,  or  West — but  move  in  harmony  with  all.  By  this 
means,  the  destiny  of  these  people  for  coming  years, 
would  be  grand  beyond  conception.  With  an  area  of  near 
3,000,000  of  square  miles — being  about  the  size  of  all 
Europe — if  we  can  remain  united,  how  great  would  be 
our  march  to  power — to  greatness,  and  to  glory." 

"  The  Repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  line  has 
created  deep  exasperation  at  the  North.  The  Kansas- 
Nebraska  Bill  has  been  lavishly  denounced,  as  treachery — • 
as  perfidy  to  the  North.  Senator  Douglass,  who  is  gener 
ally  considered  the  author  of  the  bill,  has  come  in  for  no 
small  share  of  the  odium  which  Free-Soilism  feels  and 
expresses  against  the  Act.  His  efficient  and  bold  advo 
cacy  of  that  measure  constitutes  the  brightest  page  in  his 
life.  His  great  genius  towered  above  petty  sectional 
strife.  If  he  has  incurred,  and  that  most  unjustly  —  the 
ill-will  of  this  faction  North — he  has  endeared  himself  to 
his  fellow-citizens  South,  who  will  not  forget  his  devotion 
to  the  great  national  interests  of  the  whole  country." 

"  Here  is  the  language  of  the  act :  c  The  true  intent  and 
meaning  of  this  act,  is,  not  to  legislate  Slavery  into  any 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  93 

Territory  or  State,  nor  to  exclude  it  therefrom,  but  to 
leave  the  people  thereof  perfectly  free  to  form  their  do 
mestic  institutions  in  their  own  way.'  And  as  a  neces 
sary  consequence,  the  Missouri  Compromise  line  was 
repealed,  passed  in  1820,  prohibiting  Slavery  north  of  the 
line  of  36°  30'." 

44  Is  that  the  whole  sum  of  offense,  uncle  ?  The  prin 
ciple  laid  down  in  that  Bill,  ought  to  have  met  with 
general  approbation.  Why  not  leave  the  people  of  the 
territories  '  free  to  form  their  domestic  institutions  in  their 
own  way  ?'  I  can  see  no  impropriety  in  it,  arid  I  am  truly 
amazed  at  the  violent  opposition  it  has  encountered." 

u  But  a  great  deal,  David,  is  uttered  about  perfidy, 
treachery,  violation  of  plighted  faith,  by  Free-Soilism,  by 
fanatics,  who  are  knowingly  and  willfully  acting  in  diso 
bedience  to  the  most  sacred  compromises  of  the  Federal 
Constitution.  Point  them  to  that  section  which  enjoins 
the  delivery  up  of  fugitives,  owing  service  or  labor  in  one 
state  escaping  into  another,  and  demand  of  them  a  com 
pliance  with  their  constitutional  duty  upon  the  claim  of 
the  owner  or  agent — would  they  fulfill  it  ?  By  no  means  ; 
and  yet  they  are  great  sticklers  for  Compromises.  They 
are  eternally  harping  on  the  Missouri  Compromise,  raising 
that  in  importance  and  dignity  to  the  Constitution 
itself. 

"  My  own  impression  of  such  compromises  might  be 
inferred  from  preceding  observations.  I  maintain,  the 
Missouri  line  was  a  nullity  when  made — it  is  still  a  nul 
lity.  In  what  light  are  such  compromises  to  be  con 
sidered — as  amendments  to  the  Constitution,  or  equivalent 
thereto  ?  Concede  that,  and  the  Constitution  may  be 
changed  by  a  bare  majority  of  Congress.  Whereas  tho 
instrument  itself  says,  k  Amendments  can  be  proposed  by 
two-thirds  of  Congress,  or  two-thirds  of  the  legislatures 
of  the  several  States ;  but  the  amendments,  before  they 
have  any  validity,  must  be  ratified  by  three-fourths  of  the 
states  in  convention  or  by  their  legislatures,  as  Congress 
may  direct.'  I  ask  emphatically,  what  are  those  compro 
mises  ?  Not  amendments  surely,  because  they  have  not 
been  adopted  in  the  way  just  pointed  out.  If  they  are 
anything,  they  cannot  be  elevated  above  the  ordinary  acts 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

of  legislation.  And  I  am  not  disposed  even  to  give  them 
that  much  consequence,  for  they  are  usually  passed  under 
circumstances  of  duress  vile." 

"  I  am  disposed  so  to  think,  uncle.  The  Missouri 
Compromise — that  of  1850,  were  both  passed  under  ex 
traneous  circumstances,  unfavorable  to  quiet  and  sober 
deliberation.  However  that  may  be,  it  is  clear  to  my 
mind  the  Constitution  cannot  be  thus  amended,  nor  ought 
it  to  be.  How  very  dangerous  to  intrust  such  power 
with  a  bare  majority  of  Congress — a  power  which  nothing 
but  three-fourths  of  these  states  in  the  most  solemn 
manner  can  exercise.  The  hint  ought  to  be  sufficient  to 
put  the  whole  country  on  its  guard.  My  God  !  if  the 
Free-Soilers  could  elect  the  President  and  secure  a  ma- 
]ority  in  both  branches  of  Congress,  what  might  they  not 
do  2" 


CHAPTEK    XII. 

The  Union  and  its  Dangers. 

"  Now,  David,  what  forced  upon  the  country  in  1820, 
the  Missouri  Compromise  line,  the  repeal  of  which,  haa 
been  productive  of  so  much  irritation  among  the  people 
of  the  North  ?  The  South  has  been  stigmatized  for  her 
Punic  faith  in  respect  to  this  matter.  Her  guilt  or  inno 
cence  is  a  fit  subject  of  inquiry." 

How  stands  the  case  3  Missouri  asked  for  admission 
into  this  Union  in  1819  and  '20,  and  she  was  refused. 
Upon  what  ground  ?  Because  she  established  Slavery 
by  her  constitution.  The  very  bill  admitting  her,  con 
tained  a  clause  emancipating  her  slaves.  This  was  passed 
by  the  Lower  House,  but  lost  in  the  Senate.  A  most 
angry  feeling  was  engendered  in  Congress,  between  the 
North  and  South,  and  convulsed  the  whole  country.  The 
Union  was  on  the  eve  of  dissolution — the  South,  to  save 
that,  in  an  unguarded  moment,  made  this  concession. 
Why  was  this  necessity  forced  on  the  South  ?  Did  the 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  95 

North  act  right  in  refusing  to  Missouri  the  privilege  of 
;  forming  her  domestic  institutions  in  her  own  way  ? ' 
Here  the  North  committed  a  wrong,  and  took  advantage 
of  it,  contrary  to  a  maxim  of  law  in  that  case  made  and 
provided.  I  ask,  why  should  a  State  be  refused  admis 
sion  upon  such  a  pretext?  Ought  that  to  be  an  objection 
to  a  State?  if  it  is,  how  obvious  it  must  be,  the  pre 
sent  Slave  states  in  the  Union  are  unfit  and  unworthy 
members.  If  it  be  a  hinderance  to  the  admission  of  new 
States,  how  can  the  over-righteous  North  continue  in 
union  with  the  present  fifteen  Slave  states  ?  What 
response  can  be  made  ?  Well,  I  fear  if  new  ones  are 
refused  on  this  ground,  ere-long  the  old  ones  will  very 
politely  be  asked  t©  walk  out." 

44  That  would  be  apt  to  follow,  uncle.  Now,  how 
would  it  look  for  the  little  State  of  Rhode  Island,  a  mere 
plantation,  to  order  old  Virginia  out  of  the  Union,  be 
cause  she  was  polluted  with  slavery,  and,  therefore,  un 
worthy  to  associate  with  her  in  the  National  councils  ? 
How  would  that  blessed  Old  Dominion  feel — the  mother 
of  presidents — the  great  benefactor  of  the  nation — she 
who  brought  in  as  dower  a  princely  dominion,  and  laid  it 
at  the  feet  of  the  Union  for  the  common  benefit.  And 
must  she  and  her  children  be  denied  any  blessing  this 
Union  can  afford — any  privilege  conceded  to  the  North  ? 
Any  discrimination  against  her — how  odious — how  abom 
inable  1" 

"  I  am  sunk  down,  David,  at  the  chaos  that  reigns  in 
our  politics.  What  a  marvel  is  man  to  man  !  How  dif 
ferently  we  must  be  constituted,  or  are  we  not  the  mere 
creatures  of  education  ?  I  feel  overwhelmed  at  the  sad 
picture  our  nation  presents  to  the  eyes  of  the  world ! 
1  Confusion  worse  confounded,'  is  our  unhappy  national 
condition.  Can  order  be  ever  produced  out  of  our  present 
discordant  society  ?  What  great  blessings  are  put  at 
hazard  ! 

"  Contemplate  for  a  moment,  the  rich  inheritance  that 
has  descended  to  us — survey  the  amplitude  of  our  posses 
sions — cast  your  eyes  along  the  Atlantic  border — pass 
over  to  the  Pacific,  from  north  to  south,  from  east  to  west, 


96  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

what  an  area  do  we  encircle  !  The  diversity  of  produc 
tion,  the  variety  of  climate,  the  fertility  of  soil,  mark  out 
a  path  to  a  glorious,  exalted  destiny. 

"But  to  these  natural  advantages,  the  greatest  boon  of 
all  is  to  be  added — a  free  government — a  government  so 
organized  as  to  secure  the  greatest  amount  of  happiness  to 
the  community.  The  great  problem,  l  that  governments 
were  instituted  for  the  benefit  of  the  governed,*'  has  been 
happily  demonstrated.  The  principle  of  representation 
we  understand  and  carry  out  more  successfully  than  any 
other  nation.  By  its  instrumentality  our  system  of  gov 
ernment  can  be  made  co-extensive  with  our  great  circum 
ference. 

u  Think  how  truly  and  greatly  we  are  blessed.  Can 
we  extol  too  highly  the  liberty  of  speech  and  of  the  press  ? 
the  liberty  of  conscience,  privileges  inestimable,  but 
vouchsafed  to  us  ?  Oh  !  how  long  was  the  human  mind  en 
fettered  with  the  heavy  chains  of  bigotry  !  How  singular, 
KELIGIOUS  LIBERTY  was  unknown  until  taught  in  America ! 
Here  it  was  first  proclaimed,  that  ;  man  had  a  right  to 
worship  God  agreeably  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  con 
science?  So  great  an  achievement  was  reserved  for  the 
sages  who  laid  the  foundations  of  our  government. 
Blessed  may  their  memories  be,  till  time  shall  end.  Had 
they  done  nothing  more,  this  alone  would  have  added 
immortality  to  their  names." 

"  We  are  not  capable,  uncle,  of  appreciating  the  great 
minds  that  founded  our  Republic  I  Retrospect  the  past. 
Christianity  had  reigned  on  earth  1776  years.  The  keys 
of  heaven  and  of  hell  were  thought  to  be  deposited  with 
one  Church,  the  head  of  which  vaunted  himself  as  being 
the  vicegerent  of  Christ  upon  earth.  All  who  would  not 
acknowledge  his  supremacy,  if  discovered,  were  consigned 
to  the  stake.  Thousands  of  martyrs  perished  amidst 
flames,  because  they  would  not  confess  the  infallibility  of 
the  Pope.  Religious  persecution  filled  the  earth  ;  but  the 
American  Revolution  not  only  dissolved  the  ties  that  con 
nected  us  with  mother  England  ;  it  also  sundered  the  con 
nection  between  Church  and  State.  It  proclaimed  to 
mankind  the  great  principle  of  religious  tolerance,  forbid 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  97 

the  fagot  and  the  flames  to  desecrate  our  soil,  and  left  all 
the  privilege  to  worship  God  in  whatever  manner  their 
consciences  dictated." 

"  It  is  obvious,  David,  though  this  may  seem  a  slight 
acquisition  ;  yet  it  is  the  corner-stone  in  the  edifice  of 
freedom.  Mark  my  words!  Take  away  religious  lib 
erty — with  it  go  the  liberty  of  speech  and  of  the  press — 
and  there  is  naught  else  left  worth  preserving.  Political 
liberty,  without  including  the  religious,  is  a  solecism — a 
perfect  absurdity.  Suppose  a  person  commits  an  error  in 
religion,  how  cruel,  how  unjust  to  punish  him  with  death 
for  such  a  mistake.  Perhaps  he  judged  from  his  best  in 
formation — from  the  exercise  of  his  best  reason.  If  he 
could  not  think  and  see  as  others,  on  these  abstruse 
questions,  it  might  be  owing  to  some  mental  infirmity, 
beyond  his  control,  and  for  which,  instead  of  an  excruci 
ating  death,  he  ought  never  to  suffer  in  the  slightest  de 
gree.  What  dangerous  presumption — not  to  say  wicked 
tyranny — for  any  body  of  men  to  place  themselves  as 
judge  between  an  intelligent  soul  and  its  maker !  Of  all 
despotisms  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  this  is  the  most  hate 
ful — rthe  most  intolerable.  How  many  have  suffered 
martyrdom,  rather  than  yield  so  sacred  a  right  f  Yes, 
thousands  upon  thousands  of  human  souls,  enlightened 
and  pious,  rather  than  submit,  have  ascended  to  the  throne 
of  God  amidst  the  curling  flame." 

"  How  horrible  the  thought,  uncle !  What  a  fearful 
responsibility  did  those  assume  who  ventured  to  send, 
from  time  to  eternity,  myriads  of  the  human  family 
for  bare  errors  in  religion — I  say  bare  errors/  but  who 
knows  whether  they  were  or  not  ?  Who  has  a  right  to 
sit  in  judgment  in  relation  to  such  holy  and  inscrutable 
matters  ?  Ah  me !  I  would  not,  for  the  whole  world, 
consign  a  fellow-mortal  to  the  stake,  for  worshiping  God 
in  his  own  way ;  though  it  might  be  very  different  from 
the  mode  I  practiced  myself.  The  very  thought  of  human 
fallibility,  of  the  weakness  of  our  intellects,  would  admon 
ish  me  to  the  utmost  tolerance  in  the  dogmas  of  religion. 
I  confess  with  shame  and  deep  mortification,  that  with  all 
my  academic  lore,  I  am  not  able  to  fathom  the  Almighty, 
or  to  comprehend  the  vaetness  of  His  works.  Should  I 
0 


98  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

unluckily  fall  into  an  error  in  the  adoration  and  worship 
I  should  feel  and  offer  to  the  great  and  incomprehensible 
God,  the  Creator  and  Preserver  of  this  world,  how  mon 
strous  cruel  it  would  be  if  /  had  to  atone  for  such  error 
at  the  stake." 

u  Yes,  truly,  David,  how  precious  is  such  liberty ! 
Well,  I  have  adverted  to  these  matters  chiefly  to  show 
the  value -.of  our  government — the  intense  affection  we 
owe  it,  and  how  strenuous  our  efforts  ought  to  be  for  its 
preservation  and  perpetuity.  The  prize  of  liberty — grand, 
glorious,  glittering — is  the  stake  upon  which  we  have  Gin- 
eyes  fixed,  in  this  political  race  we  are  running.  Now, 
this  rich  inheritance,  this  glorious  prize,  is  in  the  utmost 
jeopardy  1  All  the  liberties  I  have  mentioned — dear  and 
valuable  as  they  are  to  humanity — seem  suspended  by  a 
hair.  The  angry  billows  of  fanaticism  are  heaving  on 
the  bosom  of  our  political  sea,  and  whether  the  vessel  of 
State  can  ride  out  the  storm,  God,  by  his  omniscience, 
can  only  tell. 

"  The  Repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  line,  and 
opening  of  the  Territories  to  all  the  people  of  the  Union 
alike,  is  the  pretext  to  all  this  fierce  excitement.  I  am 
free  to  aver,  that  amidst  this  ebullition  of  passion,  I  can 
not  perceive  wherein  the  South  has  done  wrong.  Has 
she  ever  asked  Congress  to  establish  Slavery  in  any  Ter 
ritory  1  No,  never — never!  She  only  demands  of  her 
sister  states  an  equal  participation  in  the  settlement  of 
the  public  lands.  She  does  not  crave  to  be  legislated  in, 
but  opposes  being  legislated  out ;  this  is  l  the  height — the 
front  of  her  offending.''  " 

"Indeed,  uncle,  is  that  the  sum  and  substance  of  her 
guiltiness?  What  temerity,  in  fifteen  Southern  states, 
to  put  in  such  an  unreasonable  claim--nearly  one  moiety 
of  the  whole  Union.  Nearly,  did  I  say :  if  computed  by 
the  number  of  square  miles  each  section  contains,  the 
South  is  the  largest  by  a  fraction  over  200,000  square 
miles.  Then,  in  regard  to  territory  and  wealth,  she  is  in 
no  way  inferior  to  the  North — if  less  in  population, 
ought  that  to  be  a  reason  for  her  disfranchisement — for 
the  odious  and  unfair  exclusion  of  her  from  the  public 
domain  \  Moreover,  must  the  general  government,  the 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  99 

creature  of  all  the  states,  act  with  disloyalty  to  a  portion  ? 
Must  the  President  and  Congress  forget  the  solemnity 
and  obligations  of  their  oaths,  '  to  preserve,  protect,  and 
defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States?'  That 
Constitution,  in  its  operation,  pervades  the  whole  Union. 
One  section  ought  to  be  cherished  and  protected  as  much 
as  another.  Congress,  therefore,  in  the  Nebraska-Kansas 
Bill,  disclaims  any  intention  to  legislate  slavery  into  the 
territory,  or  to  exclude  it  therefrom ;  but  to  leave  the 
people  thereof,  perfectly  free  to  form  their  domestic  in 
stitutions  in  their  own  way." 

UA  fair,  just,  and  correct  principle,  David,  which  none 
but  enemies  to  self-government  will  oppose — tyrants  at 
heart,  and  foes  in  disguise,  to  liberty.  May  the  Missouri 
Compromise  line  go,  never  more  to  be  remembered,  when 
it  comes  in  conflict  with  so  salutary  a  principle,  forming 
the  very  basis  of  republicanism.  Whoever  denies  that, 
must  also  dispute  the  capacity  of  the  people  for  self- 
government.  Why  should  there  be  such  a  dread  to  trust 
this  question  with  the  people  of  the  territories — are  they 
incompetent  and  unqualified  to  decide  it  ? 

"  Kansas,  during  her  Territorial  existence,  must  not  be 
intrusted  with  the  power  to  decide  upon  her  domestic 
institutions  in  her  own  way — that  must  be  reserved  to 
the  superior  virtue  and  intelligence  of  Congress ;  but  so 
soon  as  she  becomes  a  State — if  it  were  the  next  day — 
she  can  then  exercise  that  power  without  restraint. 
What  possible  difference  can  it  make,  whether  this  pre 
rogative  be  exerted  a  few  days  sooner  or  later?" 

UI  cannot  discern,  uncle,  if  it  be  right  in  one  case, 
why  it  is  not  in  the  other.  Now  let  us  suppose  Kansas 
has  the  requisite  population — by  the  authority  of  Con 
gress,  she  has  held  a  convention — prepared  a  republican 
constitution,  and  has  been  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a 
Free  state.  But  directly  afterward,  from  a  sudden  change 
in  public  sentiment,  she  convenes  another  convention  to 
alter  or  amend  her  constitution.  She  has  been  admitted 
into  the  Union,  and  hence,  has  all  the  privileges  of  the 
original  states,  being  on  an  equal  footing  with  them  in 
all  respects  whatsoever.  She  now  establishes  Slavery. 


100  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

Who  will  deny  her  the  power  to  form  her  domestic  insti 
tutions  in  her  own  way  ?  None,  I  presume." 

"Between  the  pupilage  and  manhood  of  a  Territory, 
David,  there  may  be  a  very  little  span.  In  this  light, 
therefore,  the  whole  quarrel  between  North  and  South 
depends  upon  an  act  before  or  subsequent  to  admission  ; 
perhaps  a  few  months  sooner  or  later.  The  people  in  the 
territories  must  be  kept  in  a  condition  of  vassalage ;  but 
so  soon  as  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  a  transmu 
tation  takes  place,  and  they  emerge  from  their  degraded 
minority. 

"  But  Free-Soilism  affects  to  be  terribly  incensed  at  the 
aggressions  of  the  slave  power.  She  wants  a  positive 
law  to  inhibit  slavery  in  the  territories.  Let  us  gratify 
her  for  the  moment,  and  see  \LQ\\  pleasantly  and  justly 
it  will  operate. 

"Imagine  our  sentinel  still  at  his  post,  with  his  in 
signia  of  power,  to  preserve  the  territories  inviolate  from 
the  encroachments  of  slavery.  A  Virginian  draws  near, 
and  offers  to  pass  in  with  his  retinue  of  slaves. 

"  4  Fray,  sir,  whence  are  you  ? '  says  the  sentinel. 

"  '  I  am  a  citizen  of  Virginia,  and  have  come,  with  my 
slaves,  to  make  a  settlement  in  Kansas.' 

"  '  Congress,  sir,  has,  by  law,  inhibited  slavery  in  the 
territories  ;  you  can  stand  aside.' 

"  '  Very  well.  Here  is  a  gentleman  from  Massachu 
setts,  my  traveling  companion  part  of  the  way.  Now, 
let  me  see  what  you  will  do  with  him  ? ' 

"  '  I  am,'  says  the  Yankee,  s  all  the  way  from  the  good 
old  Bay  State,  the  land  of  the  Puritans,  and  the  cradle 
of  the  Revolution.' 

"In  what  capacity,  sir,'  says  the  sentinel,  'do  these 
Africans  accompany  you  ?' 

"  '  Be  not  alarmed,  sir,  they  are  good  and  true  citizens 
of  that  ancient  commonwealth.  They  have  come  with 
me  as  free  laborers,  not  as  slaves,  like  those  with  my 
friend  from  Virginia.' 

"  '  If  I  were  to  die  for  it,'  rejoins  the  sentinel,  '  I  can't 
see,  so  far  as  external  appearance  is  concerned,  a  shade 
of  difference  between  the  bond  and  free ;  all  uncontami- 


ABOLITIONISM  UNTIED.  101 


nated  Africans,  full-blooded  and  pure.  But  the  wisdom 
of  Congress  has  declared  in  favor  of  free,  and  against 
slave  labor? 

"  c  Permit  me  to  say,  sir,'  says  the  Virginian,  to  the 
sentinel,  '  that  for  honesty,  sobriety  and  industry,  my 
slaves  cannot  be  surpassed.  And  I  will  venture  farther 
to  say,  at  the  end  of  each  year  they  will  show  a  better 
crop  —  dress  finer  —  have  more  money  than  those  with 
Doctor  Ramsey,  from  Massachusetts.  Not  only  that, 
but  in  the  meantime  will  live  better  —  be  more  contented 
and  happy.' 

"  4  That  is  an  abstraction,'  replies  Doctor  Ramsey. 
4  There  is  a  great  distinction  to  be  drawn  between  free 
dom  and  slavery.  Colonel  Reed,  from  Virginia,  whom 
I  met  by  the  way,  doubtless  is  a  humane  and  generous 
master.  The  idea  of  slavery  is  intolerable.  These  free 
laborers  of  mine,  voluntarily  work  for  hire.  They  have 
come  with  me  this  long  distance,  to  render  me  service  at 
fixed  wages.'' 

'"Very  well,  sir,'  rejoins  Colonel  Reed.  'But  do 
you  not  hold  them  bound  faithfully  to  labor  for  your 
benefit?  Do  you  not  require  them,  with  the  utmost 
diligence,  to  perform  every  service  they  have  under 
taken  ?  ' 

"  c  I  do,  most  assuredly,'  responds  the  Doctor.  '  I  s"uf- 
fer  no  idleness  —  no  disobedience  to  orders.  My  servants 
are  to  be  up  by  dawn  of  day  :  my  rule  is,  no  breakfast  till 
it  has  been  earned.  My  orders  are  to  be  strictly  observed. 
When  I  hire  men  to  work,  they  shall  earn  their  wages.  I 
don't  pay  them  money  to  do  nothing.' 

"  '  1  presume  not,  Doctor.  I  find  your  rules  as  arbi 
trary  as  mine  ;  nor  can  I  see  they  are  more  humane. 
Your  servants  are  dependent  —  perhaps  poor  —  relying 
upon  their  toil  for  subsistence.  Idle  they  cannot  be. 
You  are  a  man  of  wealth,  and  can  furnish  them  with 
employment;  and  when  the  work  is  done,  pay  them  the 
stipulated  wages.  Now  do  you  not  perceive  that  depend 
ence  creates  servitude,  and  places  the  poor  in  the  power 
of  thencA?' 

"  ;  Not  at  all,  Colonel,  servitude  and  slavery  are  not 
one  and  the  same  thing  —  they  ought  never  to  be  con- 


102  AferttjTiowisM  'J-NVEILED. 


founded.  These  slaves  of  yours,  by  the  laws  of  Virginia, 
are  made  chattels  —  personal  estate  —  can  descend  to  heirs, 
etc.  These  images  of  God  are  thus  transferable  like 
horses,  cattle,  and  other  stock.' 

"  '  Grant  it  all,  Doctor;  but  are  they  not  by  our  laws 
regarded  as  persons  ?  They  cannot  be  deprived  of  life  or 
be  cruelly  treated  with  impunity.  By  no  means.  In 
these  respects  they  are  under  the  protection  of  the  law  ; 
and  in  the  infirmities  of  age  and  in  sickness  they  can't 
become  a  charge  upon  the  county  —  the  owner  being 
required  to  take  care  of  them.  You  do  not  incur  this 
responsibility  —  in  old  age  and  sickness  you  can  cast  your 
servants  off.' 

"  ;  So  I  can,  Colonel,  I  have  no  interest  in  them  any 
longer  than  they  labor  for  me.  In  sickness  they  lose  the 
time  and  pay  their  own  expenses.  In  this  way  we  econo 
mize  and  render  our  labor  the  cheapest.  The  cost  of  your 
slaves,  with  these  other  contingencies,  will  enable  me  to 
cultivate  a  crop  cheaper  than  you  can.' 

"  '  Perhaps  it  will,  Doctor.  The  Yankees  are  celebrated 
for  'cuteness  the  world  over,  and  they  display  it  as  much 
in  their  contrivance  to  obtain  cheap  labor  as  in  anything. 
else.  For  a  poor  man  to  rise  among  them  is  next  to  im 
possibility.  Out  of  his  scant  earnings  he  can  never 
accumulate.  After  a  life  of  toil  he  dies,  as  he  began, 
poor.  To  this  fact  your  crowded  poor-houses  bear  con 
vincing  testimony.' 

"  fc  But  it  is  in  a  national  aspect  I  want  to  examine  the 
question  of  my  exclusion  from  this  territory.  You  and  I 
have  come  both  with  negroes.  My  State  has  one  system 
of  labor,  yours  another.  The  wealth  of  a  nation  consists 
in  its  productive  industry.  Can  your  free  negroes  out 
work  mine  —  raise  more  wheat,  corn,  hemp,  or  tobacco? 
Will  not  the  prairies,  if  turned  over  by  rny  slaves,  yield 
as  well  as  if  plowed  up  by  your  free  negroes  ?  Why 
should  the  National  government  undertake  to  make  a 
discrimination  of  this  kind  ?  Now  this  will  be  its  effect  : 

"  '  Massachusetts  has  made  by  her  Constitution  and 
laws  citizens  of  the  free  negroes,  and  she  is  the  only  State 
in  the  Union  that  has  conferred  upon  them  this  distin 
guished  honor.  Now,  sir,  must  she  be  permitted  to  force 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  103 

that  kind  of  population  into  these  Territories,  inter 
mingle  them  with  the  whites,  and  claim  for  them  equal 
privileges  ?' 

"  '  Why  not,  Colonel,  are  they  not  as  good  as  white 
people?' 

"  4Ask  Indiana,  Illinois,  Doctor;  ay,  every  other  State 
in  the  Union  but  your  own.  The  response  will  come  up 
in  tones  of  thunder,  NO  !  NO  !  l  We  never  have,  nor  ever 
will  admit  the  Africans  as  equals.' 

"  'And  yet,  in  violation  of  this  public  sentiment, 
evinced  by  the  laws  and  regulations  of  every  State  except 
one,  you  bring  here  these  black  citizens  of  your  ancient 
commonwealth  to  plant  their  feet  upon  this  virgin  soil. 
Can  you  suppose  there  is  enough  virtue  in  the  legislation 
of  your  State  to  make  a  negro  anything  different  from 
what  he  is  ? 

"  'Again,  does  not  this  very  incident  show  the  injustice 
of  Free-Soilism  ?  You  and  I  have  come  to  settle  and 
improve  these  territories  —  I  am  prohibited;  you  are 
admitted,  because  your  Africans  are,  by  your  State, 
dignified  as  citizens — though  not  a  whit  better  than  mine. 
Now  think  of  the  two  States.  Can  yours  claim  superi 
ority  over  mine?  The  'Old  Dominion,'  like  Saul,  stands 
head  and  shoulders  above  every  other  State.  This  pre 
eminence  should  be  accorded  to  her  for  the  sacrifices  she 
has  made  for  the  common  good.  With  the  different 
systems  of  labor,  as  adopted  by  the  various  States,  the 
general  government  ought  never  to  meddle.  She  should 
place  all  upon  a  footing  of  equality,  and  then  the  domes 
tic  tranquillity  would  not  be  disturbed.  The  South  and 
West  will  not  yield  this  territory  to  your  black  citizens — 
let  them  form  a  State  and  send  a  negro  to  Congress! 
When  that  day  comes  the  cry  will  be  made, '  To  your  own 
tents,  O  Israel!' 

u  If  Free-Soilism  can  have  its  way,  such  would  be  the 
cry  in  all  the  southern  region  in  less  than  twelve  months. 
The  South  will  never  consent  to  be  dishonored  merely  on 
account  of  her  system  of  labor.  If  she  should  ever  be 
forced  into  secession,  it  will  be  because  the  National  Com 
pact  has  been  grossly  violated — its  compromises  shame 
fully  trampled  under  foot.  The  Union  to  which  she 


104 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 


consented,  the  terras  upon  which  it  was  formed,  would  be 
destroyed — leaving  her  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  a  despotic 
majority  of  Free-Soilers.  To  such  usurpation  the  South 
could  not  tamely  submit,  although  her  attachment  to  the 
present  Union  might  remain  unabated.  Yet  when  north 
ern  fanaticism,  whose  whole  aim  is  to  degrade  and  insult 
her,  shall  be  installed  in  the  high  places  of  government, 
we  may  rest  assured  that  then  the  tug  of  war  will 
commence. 

"  Should  not  this  spirit,  David,  be  checked  and  rebuked, 
such  must  be  the  inevitable  result.  Those  who  flatter 
themselves  the  South  will  only  '  kick  in  the  traces  and  fall 
back,'  will  be  most  woefully  disappointed.  Such  pusilla 
nimity  ought  not  to  be  anticipated.  What  are  her  num- 
bersJ  Over  six  millions  of  whites.  A  number  too  great 
for  annihilation  suddenly.  Why  should  it  be  supposed 
they  would  tamely  yield  up  their  most  precious  rights — 
'only  kick  in  the  traces,-  and  let  the  minions  of  Free-- 
Soilism,  with  the  heavy  reins  of  despotism  drive  them, 
Jehu-like,  to  inevitable  destruction  ?  It  is  not  in  human 
nature  to  yield  without  a  struggle  to  such  unheard  of 
despotism. 

"  When  before  was  ever  the  chivalry  of  the  South  called 
in  question ;  her  undaunted  bravery  for  a  moment  doubted  ? 
Do  not  the  revolutionary  struggle,  the  war  of  1812 — the 
Mexican  War — all  bear  united  testimony  to  her  courage 
and  invincibility?  The  laurels  won  in  all  these  contests 
sit  not  alone  on  Northern  brows.  Oh  !  it  would  be 
almost  invidious  to  name  our  Southern  heroes  and  brave 
troops,  who  have  won  imperishable  renown  on  the  en 
sanguined  field.  Their  names  and  their  deeds  stand  in 
bold  relief  on  the  historic  page.  Perhaps  the  present 
generation,  should  an  emergency  rise,  will  not  prove  the 
degenerate  sons  of  such  illustrious  sires." 

"  The  very  possible  good  to  be  attained,  uncle,  by  in 
terdicting  Slavery  in  the  territories  will  hardly  justify  the 
hazardous  enterprise  in  which  Abolitionism  is  engaged. 
The  disruption  of  this  Union  will  entail  upon  our  race 
woes  such  as  the  world  has  not  hitherto  witnessed.  Be 
nighted  must  be  the  minds  of  Northern  fanatics,  if  they 
will  rush  headlong  into  the  yawning  gulf  which  lies 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  105 

before  them.  If,  instead  of  domestic  tranquillity,  and  the 
blessings  of  liberty  to  themselves  and  posterity,  they  shall 
invoke  civil  discord,  and  internal  war,  all  for  the  estab 
lishment  of  i  freedom  on  the  soil,'  the  page  which  shall 
record  such  madness,  such  fatuity,  should  be  bordered 
with  the  drapery  of  mourning." 

"  Suppose,  however,  such  result  may  not  follow,  David. 
How  much  would  the  North  gain  by  confining  Slavery 
to  its  present  limits  ?  If  the  object  is  for  the  good  of  the 
slave,  the  Abolitionists  ought  not  to  oppose  the  diffusion  ; 
for  it  cannot  make  his  condition  worse  by  transferring 
him  from  the  present  States  to  Kansas.  It  multiplies 
his  chances  for  freedom.  It  does  not  increase  the  number 
in  bondage,  that  would  remain  the  same.  Neither  does 
it  give  any  more  political  weight  to  the  South.  She  has 
ample  space  for  her  population,  and  the  labor  of  her 
slaves,  for  hundreds  of  years  to  come.  She  will  go  on  to 
increase  at  the  same  ratio,  by  limitation  or  expansion. 

u  Let  us  personify  the  two  sections  for  the  moment,  to 
hear  their  mutual  criminations  and  recriminations  ;  there 
they  sit  in  the  President's  mansion,  haughty,  proud,  and 
disdainful,  each  enrobed  in  gaudy  attire,  and  reposing  on 
silken  cushions.  No  two  old  maids  ever  assumed  such 
frightful  mien,  and  overbearing  hauteur." 

"  A  happy  conceit,  uncle.  Let  silence  reign,  while 
those  peerless  old  beauties  pour  out  all  the  vials  of  wrath, 
which,  for  so  many  years  have  been  locked  up  in  their 
bosoms.  Like  the  throes  of  a  volcano,  the  lava  must 
have  vent.  See  how  they  are  convulsed  with  contending 
passions,  while  their  eyes  flash  with  burning  indigna 
tion." 


106  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

CHAPTEE    XIII. 

The  Altercation. 

"  '  I  TELL  you,  Miss  North,'  says  Miss  South,  cmy  ire 
is  worked  up  to  the  highest  pitch.  I  perceive  you  are  not 
disposed  to  consider  me  any  longer  your  co-equal.  We 
have  been  united  in  business  ever  since  1787.  You  can 
not  have  forgotten  the  articles  of  our  agreement ;  but  you 
are  beginning  to  assume  an  arrogance  and  superiority 
insupportable.' 

"  k  Oh,  Miss  South,'  rejoins  Miss  North,  i  do  let  us 
talk  over  our  grievances  a  little  more  dispassionately. 
Thy  blood  is  boiling  hot,  unsuited  to  calm  discussion. 
Grave  and  momentous  questions  at  issue  between  us  can 
not  be  thus  adjusted.  The  union  between  us  has  hitherto 
been  harmonious,  and  I  had  indulged  the  hope,  it  would 
be  of  long  continuance.' 

u  c  Yes,  Miss  North,  so  it  might  have  been,  if  you  had 
kept  your  prying  eyes  out  of  my  domestic  affairs.  Hav 
ing  fifteen  large  plantations  and  three  millions  of  slaves, 
you  will  not  doubt  my  wealth.  I  am  resolved  to  be  mis 
tress  in  my  own  house,  in  despite  of  your  officious 
meddling — mind  you  that.' 

"  '  Come,  do  not  be  enraged,  Miss  South,  I  don't  know 
that  I  have  been  meddlesome  ;  I  do  feel  and  express  a 
deep  sympathy  for  your  slaves.  1  persuade  off  all  I  can, 
and  those  I  can't  get  away,  I  try  to  dissatisfy.  Now,  these 
little  matters,  I  do  think,  ought  not  to  create  on  your  part 
so  much  irritation.' 

u  '  Oh,  no,  Miss  North,  all  a  trifling  matter.  Did  you 
not  bind  yourself  by  these  presents  (unfolding  the  parch 
ment)  not  to  do  these  very  things  f  I  am  almost  tempted 
to  throw  the  instrument  into  thy  perfidious  face.  What 
are  compacts — what  are  agreements  worth,  if  the  parties 
thereto,  are  not  bound  thereby  ?  Dare  you  deny  the  obli 
gation  into  which  you  entered  with  me?  Thy  frigid  face 
ought  to  be  suffused  with  blushes,  if  blushes  could  be 
seen  on  such  pallid  cheeks.' 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  107 

"  c  Retrain  from  personal  reflections,  I  pray  you,  Miss 
South— 1  am  jealous  of  my  beauty.  If  I  arn  a  little 
more  cool  and  calculating  than  you  are,  it  is  owing  to  the 
climate  in  which  I  dwell.  I  manage  my  domestic  insti 
tutions  in  my  own  way,  and  from  my  thriftiness,  you 
may  be  satisfied  they  are  well  managed.' 

u  '  Manage  your  private  affairs  in  whatever  way  you 
please,  Miss  North.  I  give  myself  no  concern  upon  that 
point.  I  care  not  what  you  do  at  home;  but  my  com 
plaint  is,  that,  not  content  with  ruling  in  your  own 
region,  you  are  employing  and  sending  over  emissaries  on 
my  side  to  create  me  trouble.  You  are  by  this  means, 
trying  to  stir  up  strife  in  my  family  by  enticing  away  my 
slaves,  and  doing  me  infinite  mischief,  in  violation  of  the 
compact  solemnly  entered  into  between  us.' 

u  •  As  to  that*  I  can  hardly  say,  Miss  South.  There 
is  a  higher  law — the  law  of  God — that  supersedes  human 
laws,  obedience  to  which,  is  our  first  duty.' 

u  l  Most  abominable,  Miss  North.  In  this  way,  the 
most  sacred  engagements  into  which  individuals  and  na 
tions  can  enter  might  be  rendered  a  nullity  at  the  option 
of  either  party.  Such  a  doctrine,  though  apparently 
pious,  makes  of  private  contracts  and  governments  mere 
cobwebs,  'whose  attenuated  thread'  will  only  hold  the 
feeblest  insects.  Shame  upon  such  perfidy.  Here  is 
your  compact  made  with  me  in  '87.  I  will  read  the 
identical  words  to  refresh  your  memory. 

u  ;  No  person  held  to  service  or  labor  in  one  State, 
under  the  laws  thereof,  escaping  in  another,  shall,  in  con 
sequence  of  any  law  or  regulation  therein,  be  discharged 
from  such  service  or  labor,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on 
the  claim  of  the  party  to  whom  such  service  or  labor  may 
be  due.' 

"  '  There  is  your  undertaking,  signed,  sealed,  and  deliv 
ered.  Why  invoke  a  higher  law  to  sanctify  its  willful 
infringement  ?  Have  you  delivered  fugitives  from  my 
estates,  which  was  your  imperative  duty  1  Answer  me 
that.' 

"  '  In  reply,  I  must  confess,  Miss  South,  in  this  respect, 
there  appears,  upon  my  part,  a  dereliction  of  duty.  But  I 
feel  justified  from  the  consideration,  that  the  laws  of  God 


108  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

never  have,  nor  ever  will,  recognize  human  slavery.  I  have, 
therefore,  under  the  sanction  of  this  higher  law,  aided  'the 
panting  fugitive  in  making  his  escape  from  the  land  of 
bondage ;  with  my  Underground  Railroads  I  have  been 
enabled  to  run  him  quickly  and  safely  to  Canada.'  Upon 
this  charitable  work  I  hope  to  receive  the  blessings  of 
God.' 

" '  Oh,  thou  hypocrite  !  Canst  thou  expect  the  blessings 
of  God  upon  the  violation  of  plighted  faith  ?  Canst  thou 
not  see  the  tendency  of  such  a  doctrine  ?  It  is  to  destroy 
the  confidence,  the  peace,  safety,  and  the  harmony  of 
society — to  tear  loose  the  ties  that  constitute  us  one  peo 
ple,  and  resolve  us  back  to  a  state  of  savage  liberty.' 

"  'I  am  conscientious  in  all  this  matter,  Miss  South.  I 
make  as  my  rule  and  guide  the  dictates  of  the  higher  law. 
The  rectitude  of  my  intentions  will  extenuate  my  conduct 
in  the  premises.' 

"'No  extenuation  in  the  world,  Miss 'North.  On  no 
such  a  pretext  ought  these  great  national  engagements  to 
be  infracted.  You  agreed  to  deliver  up  any  person  owing 
me  service  or  labor,  whether  he  was  white  or  black,  a  slave 
or  apprentice.  If  I  could  prove  the  fact,  that  a  fugitive 
owed  me  service  or  labor,  by  no  law  or  regulation  were 
you  to  defeat  my  claim  to  his  delivery.  This  was  the 
compact  between  us  in  language  the  most  unequivocal. 
And  yet  you  are  in  the  practice  continually  of  its  in 
fraction!  When  I  charge  you  with  bad  faith — with  the 
failure  to  live  up  to  the  terms  of  our  Union,  you  concede 
the  fact,  but  put  in  a  plea  of  justification.  And  what  is 
that  plea  ?  Conscience — higher  law.  Why  did  you  not 
think  of  that  ere  we  united  ?  I  had  slaves  then— so 
had  you.  We  were  both  alike,  so  far  as  that  was  con 
cerned.' 

"  'Very  truly,  Miss  South  ;  but  I  have  thought  it  expe 
dient  to  emancipate  mine,  to  get  rid  of  this  curse,  and 
advocate  the  inalienable  rights  of  man.' 

"  ll  know  that,  Miss  North,  in  what  way  the  most  of 
your  slaves  were  emancipated.  I  can  tell  you  precisely 
how  that  was  done.  You  handed  the  most  of  them  over 
to  me,  to  work  in  my  cotton  and  sugar  estates,  for  valu 
able  consideration.  You  mav  love  inalienable  riyhts 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  109 

now — perhaps  you  do — but  I  have  not  forgotten  you  then 
loved  money  a  little,  the  best.' 

" '  I  do  not  see  any  propriety,  Miss  South,  in  theso 
reminiscences.  I  might  nave  been  at  that  day  too  par 
simonious,  but  my  mind  since  has  become  more  en 
lightened  in  relation  to  human  rights  and  Christian 
duty? 

u  4  Remember,  Miss  North,  these  inalienable  rights  are 
not  a  recent  discovery.  It  was  announced  by  one  of  my 
sages  as  early  as  '76,  'that  man  was  created  with  certain 
inalienable  rights — among  these  were  life,  liberty,  and  the 
pursuit  of  happiness.'  This  great  truth  was  promulgated 
years  before  '87,  and  consequently  well  known  by  us 
both  :  but  money — money  made  you  neglect  this  great 
principle.  I  can  tell  you  my  gold,  at  the  time  of  emanci 
pation,  long  subsequent  to  those  events,  had  more  potency 
then  than  human  rights.  Now,  if  you  want  to  know  a 
piece  of  secret  history  which  has,  perhaps,  faded  from 
your  recollection — in  that  declaration  the  negro  was  not 
intended  to  be  embraced,  because  it  was  supposed  at  that 
day  he  was  not,  in  any  sense,  our  equal? 

"  4  How  cruel  thus,  Miss  South,  to  disparage  the  poor 
African !  He  is  one  of  God's  creatures  as  well  as  you 
and  I.  He  has  a  soul  to  be  saved,  and  may  be  an  heir  of 
glory,  for  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons.' 

utldo  not  wish  to  be  misapprehended,  Miss  North. 
That  portion  of  our  history  that  I  design  to  vindicate,  has 
been  most  shamefully  perverted.  When  inalienable  rights 
were  spoken  of,  what  race  was  in  the  eye  of  its  great  au 
thor  ?  That  race  that  had  to  sustain  our  flag  in  the  revo 
lutionary  war — that  race  who  held  all  political  power  in 
their  hands;  and  of  that  race  we  are  only  the  true  person 
ifications.  We  came  together  as  its  true  representatives 
in  1787  to  form  this  more  perfect  union.  When  we  used 
the  term — '  We,  the  people,'  what  was  the  meaning  ?  It 
signified  the  Anglo-Saxon — the  white  race  of  America. 
I  ask  you  in  all  seriousness,  was  the  negro  ever  once  in 
our  contemplation  ?  He  was  an  anomaly  in  our  system — • 
I  might  say,  a  mere  cipher.  Was  he  in  our  armies  as 
a  soldier — in  our  Conventions  or  Legislative  Assemblies, 
where  military  fame  was  to  be  won,  or  political  honor  and 


110  ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED. 

distinction  acquired  ?  Not  an  instance  on  record  can  be 
produced  where  the  negro  has  figured  in  the  annals  of 
our  history.  His  sphere  of  action  was  confined  to  the 
condition  in  which  he  is  found  in  my  plantations  to  this 
day.  Hence  I  am  safe  in  asserting,  that  our  race — the 
white  race — was  alone  thought  of  and  provided  for  in  this 
free  country  of  America.  I  say  it  boldly,  the  negro  had 
no  voice  or  share  in  our  civil  or  social  rights,  and  never 
constituted  an  element  in  our  political  system.' 

"'How  cruel  you  have  become,  Miss  South!  How 
slavery  doth  harden  the  heart !  I  have  sympathy — deep 
sympathy,  God  knows,  for  the  toiling  slaves  of  the  South, 
while  you,  like  an  imperious  mistress,  heed  not  their 
tears  and  their  groans.  As  the  Egyptian  taskmasters, 
you  are  unfeeling  and  despotic.' 

" i  I  can  tell  you  what  softened  your  heart,  Miss 
North — it  was  my  gold.  Many  years  ago  you  issued  an 
edict  that  Slavery  should  cease  to  exist  on  your  estates. 
Now  you  know  thousands  of  the  slaves  were  quietly 
slipped  over  on  my  side  of  the  line.  Your  agents  went 
back  smiling  over  the  glittering  gold.  Up  to  this  day  I 
don't  suppose  you  have  had  any  compunctions  of  con 
science  for  that  act.' 

"  '  I  do  not  thank  you  for  such  insinuations,  Miss 
South.  You  will  admit  I  was  then  just  commencing  the 
world,  and  was  comparatively  poor.  My  land  was  sterile, 
and  I  could  not  well  do  without  the  capital  they  were 
worth.' 

" '  I  am  not  complaining  of  your  right  to  sell ;  you  did 
just  what  I  am  doing  every  day.  I  am  only  reproaching 
you  for  the  want  of  consistency  and  good  iaith.  I  have 
told  you  this  was  exclusively  the  white  man's  government 
and  country — made  by  him  and  for  him  entirely.  There  is 
another  item  in  our  Compact  with  which  I  wish  to  refresh 
your  memory.  The  importation  of  slaves  was  allowed 
until  1808  —  twenty  years  after  our  Union  was  formed. 
Your  people  participated  in  the  profits  of  this  traffic,  as 
they  ha'l  a  legal  right  to  do,  for  it  was  not  held  to  be 
piracy  in  those  days.' 

"  '  That  is  true,  Miss  South.  I  had  to  make  that  con 
cession  to  get  you  into  the  Union.  We  have  been  pros- 


perous  and  happy,  and  I  had  fain  hope  nothing  would 
transpire  to  alienate  us  from  each  other.5 

"  'A  candid  confession,  Miss  North.  Our  Union  has 
been  mutually  beneficial.  I  have  no  objection  to  its  con 
tinuance  upon  the  identical  terms  upon  which  it  was 
originally  formed.  I  will  assure  you  candidly  of  one 
thing — as  I  shall  aim  to  fulfill  every  duty  incumbent  upon 
me,  I  will  rigidly  exact  the  same  of  you.  You  shall  not 
rule  me  up  to  a  strict  conformity  to  the  Compact,  while 
you  are  taking  the  liberty  to  disregard  its  requirements.' 

"  '  Now,  Miss  South,  I  am  aiming  to  acquit  myself 
honorably  of  all  my  Constitutional  engagements.  I  hate 
Slavery,  look  upon  it  as  a  curse,  and  am  anxious  for  its 
abolition  upon  your  estates.  However,  I  will  leave  that 
matter  to  your  voluntary  action,  but  I  will  confine  you  to 
your  present  limits — further  you  shall  not  go.' 

"'There  again,  you  are  insufferably  insulting,  Miss 
North  !  How  came  you  to  get  my  superior  ?  How  dare 
you  to  employ  language  so  degrading  and  dictatorial  ? 
We  united  as  equals,  and  by  what  means  have  you  con 
trived  to  elevate  yourself  above  me  ?  You  know  you 
have  been  guilty  of  enticing  away  my  slaves ;  you  boast 
of  your  'underground  railroads.'  Have  you  once  thought 
of  the  want  of  comity  such  conduct  displays,  even  if  you 
and  I  did  not  constitute  one  Union — solemnly  pledged  to 
promote  each  other's  joint,  as  well  as  individual  happi 
ness  and  prosperity  ?  Why  should  you  be  inimical  to 
rne  ?  What  have  I  done,  contrary  to  the  strictest  honor 
and  my  plighted  faith?  If  I  have  multiplied  m}T  slaves, 
increased  my  estates,  and  added  to  my  wealth  —  of  this 
you  ought  to  rejoice  instead  of  indulging  in  envy  and 
jealousy,  as  I  fear  you  are  prone  to  do. 

" '  I  complained  of  your  interference  with  my  domes 
tics,  or — if  you  prefer  the  word  —  slaves  —  for  mine  they 
are,  and  mine  they  shall  be  till  such  time  as  I  choose  to 
let  them  go.  How  came  they  mine  ?  By  purchase  from 
your  people — from  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain.  They 
are  mine  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  for  I  bought  the 
ancestors  of  my  present  slaves  of  those  who  owned  them 
and  had  a  right  to  sell.  There  was  legality  in  the  sale 
and  purchase.  The  consideration  was  paid  down,  thereby 


112  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

making  them  property  as  effectually  as  government  and 
laws  can  do  it.  Of  this  vested  right  am  I  now  to  be 
clandestinely  or  forcibly  deprived,  and  that  too  by  your 
agency  —  my  partner  and,  of  course,  ought  to  be  my 
friend  r 

"  '  I  have  not  proposed,  Miss  South,  to  disturb  Slavery 
upon  your  present  estates.  There,  I  grant,  it  is  under 
your  control,  not  mine;  but  I  am  resolved  it  shall  not 
extend  beyond  its  present  boundaries.' 

" 4  You  are  full  of  deceit  and  arrogant  presumption, 
Miss  North.  '  With  your  lips  you  draw  near,  while  your 
heart  is  far  from  me.'  In  my  estimation,  acts^  and  not 
words,  have  weight.  By  syren  songs  I  am  not  to  be 
deceived.  What  are  the  facts  now  transpiring  in  the  face 
of  mankind  ?  You  presume  to  assert  Slavery  is  under 
my  control  upon  my  present  estates,  and  there  you  will 
not  interfere,  while,  at  the  very  moment  these  words  are 
warm  from  your  lips,  your  emissaries  are  actively  em 
ployed  in  destroying  my  domestic  tranquillity  by  dif 
fusing  the  spirit  of  insubordination  among  my  slaves, 
thereby  laying  the  foundation  for  a  servile  war  in  which 
their  destruction  will  be  inevitable.  Nor  is  this  all.  You 
have  suffered  your  people  to  organize  Societies,  raise 
funds,  and  aid  my  slaves  in  making  their  escape,  not 
withstanding  your  positive  compact  with  me  not  to  have 
any  such  regulation.  These  Abolition  Societies  have 
made  the  very  regulations  you  promised  should  not  be 
made. 

"  '  By  their  money  and  regulations  my  slaves  are  pass 
ing,  by  'underground  railroads,'  out  of  my  reach  to  recap 
ture  or  your  power  to  deliver  up.  Is  there  no  treachery, 
no  dishonor  in  all  this  ?' 

"  l  None  that  I  can  see,  Miss  South.  I  never  promised 
to  catch  negroes  for  you.  If  your  slaves  run  off  and 
escape,  that  is  nothing  to  me — take  them,  if  you  can.' 

u  '  I  do  not  ask  you  to  be  a  negro-hunter  for  me.  I 
have  men,  faithful  and  true  that  will  do  that  work.  Tear 
up  your 'underground  railroad,' dissolve  your  nefarious 
Societies,  neither  aid  nor  secrete  or  place  obstructions  in 
my  way — then  I  will  trust  to  the  vigilance  of  my  agents 
for  the  balance. 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  113 

"  c  But  so  far  from  conforming  to  our  most  sacred  Com 
pact,  you  are  straining  every  nerve  to  depopulate  my 
estates,  and  build  up — if  such  population  could  build 
up — the  provinces  of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada.  To  all 
appearance,  you  are  at  this  day  in  a  more  strict  and 
amicable  alliance  with  our  old,  imperious  stepmother, 
England,  than  with  me,  your  co-partner  and  co-equal  for 
these  last  sixty -seven  years. 

"  '  From  England  or  Englishmen,  the  most  of  my 
slaves  were  originally  bought :  many  of  her  subjects  are 
rioting  en  this  ill-gotten  wealth,  if  you  choose  so  to  con 
sider  it.  Behold  the  injustice  and  iniquity  you  are  per 
petrating  against  one  whose  fate  has  been  interwoven 
with  yours  fc  through  evil  and  good  report! '  With  yours, 
my  warriors  have  stood  on  the  ensanguined  field ;  with 
them,  it  was  their  pride  and  glory  to  stand  where  the 
battle  hottest  raged.  The  blood  of  the  North  and  South 
flowed  in  one  common  stream,  and  the  bones  of  our 
heroes  are  bleaching  in  the  same  field,  or  are  resting 
commingled  in  the  same  grave.  This  mighty  foe  was 
England.  Through  two  bloody  wars  we  withstood  her 
myrmidons.  Many  of  our  brave  soldiers  perished  in 
those  fierce  conflicts. 

"'What  will  you  gain  by  despoiling  my  farms  of 
labor?  By  this  means  you  are  diminishing  my  ability 
to  cultivate  and  supply  the  great  staples  of  commerce.  Is 
labor  so  superabundant,  either  in  your  section  or  mine, 
that  we  can  well  afford  to  supply  Canada?  I  took  the 
negroes  when  they  were  savage  and  ignorant ;  I  have 
humanized  them,  and  learned  them  agriculture ;  and 
though  they  cost  me  money,  and  I  have  thus  improved 
them,  yet  are  you  itching  to  pass  them  into  Canada,  to 
the  detriment  of  your  own  country.  How  suicidal  it 
must  be  to  run  them  off,  when  there  is  an  acknowledged 
scarcity  of  labor  in  both  sections.  The  products  of  the 
South  are  all  needed,  for  the  sustenance  and  clothing  of 
the  human  family.  Take  cotton,  sugar,  rice — all  the 
slave  products — how  essential  they  are  to  the  commerce 
of  the  world ! 

"  c  How  great  a  blessing  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth, 
is  the  single  staple  of  cotton  !  Its  annual  product  is  over 
10 


114  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

3,000,000  of  bales,  and  great  as  that  quantity  appears, 
yet  it  is  all  required  for  clothing.  Amazing  thought ! 
this  vast  quantity  spun,  woven,  and  consumed  annually. 
Oh!  God,  how  inscrutable  are  thy  ways!  Behold  that 
little  group  of  desponding  faces,  standing  on  the  African 
shore:  they  are  destined  for  the  Western  world.  That 
small  beginning,  like  the  rivulet,  will  grow  and  grow, 
until  the  wilderness  and  forests  of  this  great  Continent 
shall  disappear  by  the  vigor  and  industry  of  the  African 
race ! 

"  'Ponder  over  the  mighty  result.  They  came  here  to 
act  in  subordination  to  the  whites — a  superior  race. 
What  were  they  in  their  native  wilds  ?  Lazy,  idle,  un 
productive;  living  upon,  and  devouring  each  other.  They 
were  as  drones  in  the  hive,  if  not  worse :  instead  of  mul 
tiplying  and  replenishing  the  earth,  they  were  producing 
depopulation.  Those  bones  and  sinews  with  which  they 
were  blessed,  in  this  hemisphere  have  been  applied  to  a 
more  useful  purpose.  To  their  labor,  are  we  chiefly  in 
debted  for  the  production  of  the  cotton  that  clothes  the 
human  family  more  cheaply  than  anything  else  that  can 
be  obtained,  and  for  it,  no  substitute  will  ever  be  found. 

"  'How  strangely  connected  are  all  the  interests  of  the 
world ;  and  how  wonderfully  has  this  earth  been  prepared 
for  our  residence.  In  warm  climates,  cotton,  sugar,  and 
rice  will  only  grow.  My  Southern  estates  were  well 
adapted  to  those  commodities.  The  great  problem  was, 
whence  should  the  labor  be  drawn.  Africa  sent  forth 
her  children  to  supply  the  requisite  labor.  The  fertile 
valleys  of  the  lower  Mississippi,  it  was  manifest,  could 
not  have  been  tilled  by  the  white  race.  They  could  not 
have  borne  the  intense  heats  of  summer  in  that  latitude. 
A  large,  and  the  most  valuable  portion  of  this  great 
country,  must  have  continued  a  waste,  had  not  Africa 
opened  her  doors,  and  poured  forth  her  sons  and  daugh 
ters  to  inhabit  that  region. 

"'They  came  as  slaves,  and  in  that  relation  they 
have  remained.  It  was  in  that  capacity  alone,  that  they 
could  be  subservient  to  the  great  purpose  to  which  they 
were  to  be  applied.  Guided  and  controlled  by  the  supe 
rior  skill  and  energy  of  the  white  man,  they  have  con 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  115 

tributed  to  swell  the  streams  of  comfort  and  prosperity 
throughout  the  world. 

"  'And  another  fact  should  be  borne  in  mind,  that 
these  two  races  can  only  live  in  harmony  in  that  relation. 
Master  and  slave,  however  unpleasant  it  may  sound  to 
your  Northern  ears,  was  the  relation  ordained  by  God, 
that  should  produce  these  happy  and  beneficial  effects. 
Now,  whenever  you  are  striving  to  paralyze  my  industry, 
to  decrease  my  labor,  you  are  not  injuring  me  only,  but 
nearly  all  the  branches  of  Adam's  family.  Do  not  for 
get  that.' 

"  4I  am  not  apt  to  forget  anything  I  wish  to  remember, 
Misa  South.  I  cannot,  perhaps,  see  so  clearly  as  you 
can,  through  this  grand  arrangement  for  the  cultivation 
of  the  earth.  Neither  am  I  inclined  to  examine  a  chain 
with  such  a  multiplicity  of  links.  To  your  astuteness  in 
these  matters,  I  am  willing  to  leave  so  intricate  a  ques 
tion,  promising,  in  future,  if  you  will  be  content  with 
your  present  possessions,  and  not  seek  enlargement,  there 
shall  be  no  farther  clashing  between  us,  but  we  will  be 
true  and  good  friends  to  the  end  of  time.' 

"  l  Is  that  the  kind  of  friendship  I  am  to  expect,  Miss 
North,  If  I  will  fall  down  before  you,  as  my  mistress 
paramount,  and  confess  myself  your  humble  vassal,  then 

S)u  will  be  my  friend.  What  an  insulting  pretension ! 
ow  happens  it,  you  assume  such  pre-eminence  and 
authority  ? ' 

"  '  I  have  one  estate  more  than  you,  Miss  South,  a 
larger  population — more  schools — more  wealth — more  in 
ternal  improvements — and  more  manufacturing  industry. 
I  have  a  right,  therefore,  to  dictate? 

u  '  What !  to  me,  Miss  North,  your  equal  in  all  re 
spects  whatever  ?  The  tyrant's  plea  is  ever  in  your 
mouth — that  might  gives  right.  Honor,  plighted  faith, 
solemn  compact — all  mere  chaff,  in  opposition  to  your 
domineering  disposition.  These  flimsy  webs  are  not 
made  to  bind  your  gigantic  limbs.  This  agreement  be 
tween  ns,  made  in  by-gone  years,  has  no  validity  when  it 
interferes  with  your  mad  ambition.  Your  motto  is,  Rule 
or  Ruin  f  •' 

"  '  Oh,  no !  Miss  South,  I  do  not  intend  to  invade  your 


116  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

reserved  rights.  You  may  reign  as  sole  mistress,  at 
home,  provided  you  will  not  try  to  add  to  your  estates, 
but  be  contented  with  your  present  limits !  ' 

"  4 1  might,  with  equal  propriety,  enjoin  the  same  upon 
you.  Do  you  not  see  that  by  this  very  pretension,  you 
elevate  yourself,  and  degrade  me  ?  Equals  cannot  use 
such  language  in  respect  to  each  other.  It  implies  on  the 
one  hand,  superiority,  and  on  the  other,  degradation. 
I  can  submit  to  no  dishonor — there,  you  touch  me  most 
sensibly.  But  I  will  pass  from  that  point,  to  make  in 
quiry,  what  is  to  become  of  all  the  out  lands  that  have 
been  obtained  since  our  Union  existed  ?  These  lands  be 
long  to  us  jointly  and  severally,  having  been  acquired  by 
our  common  funds  and  efforts,  and  each  one  of  us  owns 
an  undivided  and  equal  interest  in  them.  Now,  I  wish 
to  know  whether  you  intend  to  appropriate  all  these  lands, 
constituting  millions  of  acres,  to  your  own  proper  use 
and  benefit?' 

tc  '  As  you  are  tainted  with  Slavery,  Miss  South,  I 
cannot  think  of  suffering  that  curse  to  spread  over  this 
rich  domain.  You  will  not,  therefore,  feel  incensed,  if  I 
tell  you  I  intend  to  appropriate  them  all  to  my  own 
use.5 

" '  What  an  outrage,  Miss  North.  Whoever  before 
heard  of  such  flagrant  and  high-handed  injustice !  Joint 
real  estate,  paid  for  out  of  common  funds — not  to  be  held 
as  joint  property  between  the  parties,  but  to  be  seized 
and  enjoyed  by  one  only  of  the  firm.  In  what  school 
were  ever  such  ethics  taught?  where  was  ever  such  a 
law  enacted  or  enforced  ?  I  rightfully  claim  an  undivided 
interest  in  these  lands. 

"  '  Now,  I  am  willing  for  your  people  and  mine  to  go 
upon  these  territories :  you  boast  of  having  the  larger 
population,  and  hence  will  have  somewhat  the  advantage* 
but  that  concerns  me  not.  Let  the  wilderness  be  opened 
and  subdued,  and  new  plantations  be  formed.  I  will  not 
use,  neither  shall  you,  any  extraordinary  effort,  to  people 
these  lands.  Emigration  shall  flow  in  its  ordinary  chan 
nels,  without  any  extraneous  circumstances  being  brought 
to  bear  upon  it.  The  inhabitants  thereof,  when  suffi 
ciently  numerous,  shall  have  the  privilege  of  deciding  for 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  117 

themselves,  what  kind  of  labor  they  prefer,  whether  it  be 
free  or  slave.  Their  decision,  whatever  it  may  be,  shall 
be  final  and  conclusive  of  this  whole  controversy.  If,  in 
this  way,  you  can  gain  all  these  territories  from  me,  I 
will  utter  no  complaint,  but  will  cheerfully  acquiesce.' 

" '  Not  so,  Miss  South,  I  know  your  encroachments 
and  aggressions.  I  lay  you  under  a  positive  interdict,  to 
keep  your  slaves  off  these  lands.  I  and  my  people  will 
go  in  and  possess  them  ;  you  and  your  slaves  shall  remain 
where  they  are.' 

"  '  So  sayest  thou,  my  imperial  mistress!  I  have  long 
been  sensible  of  thy  odious  self-aggrandizement  and 
egregious  presumption.  Draw  up  thy  flowing  robes — 
erect  thy  disdainful  head — I  fear  thee  not.' 

"  '  Provoke  destruction  if  thou  wilt  have  it  so,  Miss 
North.  Thy  enemies  are  in  thy  midst,  and  when  my 
bugle  sounds,  the  work  of  devastation  will  begin.  The 
proclamation  shall  be  made  long  and  loud — c  Freedom  on 
the  soil !'  Then,  if  not  before,  thou  wilt  know  thy  internal 
weakness.  '  A  word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient.' 

"  *  A  most  desperate  wretch  thou  art,  Miss  North, 
with  a  heart  blacker  than  '  the  tents  of  Kedar.'  You  heed 
not  compacts,  you  spurn  justice,  you  care  for  naught  else 
but  absolute  dominion.  With  your  Free-Soil  proclivities 
you  will  invade  my  country,  light  up  the  torch  of  servile 
war,  and  glory  in  the  general  conflagration  that  may 
ensue. 

" fc  Lay  not  the  flattering  unction  to  thy  soul,  that  all 
these  incendiary  achievements  will  be  won  by  my  tame 
submission.  It  shall  not  be  recorded  of  me — ;  like  a  lamb 
she  opened  not  her  mouth.'  As  the  Spartans  at  the 
Straits  of  Thermopylae,  my  people  will  perish  sword  in 
hand  at  the  entrance  to  the  fair  fields  of  the  South.  They 
will  not  wait  at  home  for  your  mercenary  hordes,  but  will 
give  them  a  warm  reception  at  the  first  treading  of  their 
hostile  feet  upon  my  sacred  soil.' 

"  '  Oh,  Miss  South,  you  will  only  kick  a  little,  and 
that  will  be  all ;  you  will  not  go  out  of  the  Union — you 
dare  not.' 

" '  It  ill  becomes  me,  Miss  North,  to  hold  longer  con 
verse  with  such  desperate  blindness  or  incurable 


118  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

fanaticism,  I  therefore  feel  my  dignity  too  much  at  stake, 
to  continue  an  argument  with  a  spirit  so  madly  bent  upon 
mischief  and  interminable  woe.  Thou  hast  lost  all 
charity,  all  sisterly  love,  and  thou  seemest  to  glory  in  the 
rapine  and  bloodshed  thou  canst  bring  upon  me  and 
mine.  I  shall  return  home  from  this  interview,  entirely 
satisfied  thy  malady  is  incurable. 

"  '  Oh  !  what  fatuity.  In  the  pride  of  thy  heart  thou 
boastest  to  thyself — c  I  am  secure,  no  harm  can  be  done  to 
me.  I  am  free  from  internal  enemies ;  let  Miss  South 
kick  if  she  pleases,  I  can  bring  ruin  and  devastation  upon 
her.  She  will  see  and  feel  her  weakness,  ere  the  clarion 
of  civil  war  shall  be  sounded. 

"  c  Thus  it  is,  grievances  are  multiplied,  until  patience 
ceases  to  be  a  virtue.  My  supposed  weakness  must  in 
vite  insult  and  oppression.  I  am  to  be  goaded  to  despera 
tion.  Thou  art  blind  to  the  impending  storm.  Thy  wise 
men  are  saying,  we  know  she  will  yield  ;  she  has  often 
blustered  and  threatened  disunion ;  she  is  timid,  though 
a  stormy  old  maid.  Now,  I  appeal  to  the  Great  God,  who 
is  the  searcher  of  hearts,  and  in  whose  hands  are  sus 
pended  the  destiny  of  nations — if,  in  all  these  vitupera 
tions  and  menaces  to  the  South,  I  have  only  claimed  and 
defended  the  right.  The  argument  and  remonstrance  end 
here,  and  in  thy  own  hands  rests  the  question  of  peace  or 
war.  I  depart  hence,  resolved,  boldly  to  meet  the  issue, 
be  it  what  it  may.' " 

"  She  is  gone,  David,"  says  the  Squire,  "  like  a  flash 
of  lightning.  The  war  of  words  is  at  an  end.  Negotia 
tion  from  this  day  will  cease;  I  know  her  invincible 
soul.  Concession,  Compromise,  are  obsolete  terms — de 
pend  upon  it." 

"I  am  glad  the  conference  is  broken  up,  uncle — there 
were  no  hopes  of  adjustment.  The  Northern  mind  is 
most  sadly  deluded  and  infatuated.  From  its  mad  pur 
pose  it  will  not  be  diverted,  I  fear,  until  this  Union  shall 
crumble  into  atoms." 

"  The  heat  of  summer  is  over;  the  pleasant  month  of 
September  has  been  ushered  in.  I  was  about  to  suggest, 
that  we  make  a  journey  iucog.,  into  the  State  of  Ohio 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  110 

and  Canada,  for  the  purpose  of  eliciting  more  and  more 
information  in  relation  to  this  great  Free-Soil  movement, 
or  Abolitionism,  under  this  new  garb.  The  controversy 
between  North  and  South  is  daily  growing  more  acri 
monious  and  portentous.  I  do  not  know  of  any  medium 
ground  for  reconciliation.  However,  by  intermingling 
with  those  people — by  searching,  if  it  were  possible,- 
their  hearts  to  the  bottom,  we  may  find  the  strength  and 
intensity  of  this  Anti-Slavery  feeling.  From  such  a 
journey  we  will  return,  perhaps,  better  qualified  to  warn 
the  South  of  the  crisis  approaching." 

"  I  am,  uncle,  at  your  service,  in  such  an  excursion, 
and  hope  it  will  increase  oer  knowledge." 


CHAPTER    XIY. 

Qn  board  Steamer  Pike  —  Conversation  with  Captain  Kidd  — 
Arrives  in  Cincinnati. 

THE  'Squire  and  David,  immediately  after  the  preced 
ing  conversation,  prepared  for  the  intended  journey.  The 
next  day,  with  their  baggage,  they  repaired  to  the  landing 
on  the  Ohio  river,  in  front  of  his  residence,  and  there 
soon  hove  in  sight  the  splendid  steamer  Pike,  upon  board 
of  which  they  embarked  for  the  Queen  City. 

Fortunately  the  'Squire  met  with  an  old  acquaintance, 
Captain  Kidd,  from  Indiana,  with  whom  he  held  the  fol 
lowing  conversation : 

4i  Bless  me,  'Squire  Gray,  how  happy  I  am  to  meet  you 
this  evening." 

"  Captain  Kidd,  with  all  my  soul ;  how  have  you  been 
this  long  time?  for  it  has  been  a  few  years  since  I  last 
saw  you." 

"  I  thank  yon,  'Squire,  I  believe  we  have  not  met  for 
some  time.  I  have  enjoyed  very  good  health." 

u  I  have  not  traveled  much  recently,  Captain  ;  my  do 
mestic  affairs  requiring  my  presence  generally  at  home." 


120  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"  From  various  sources,  'Squire,  I  have  learned  of  the 
disturbances  among  the  slaves  in  your  country  —  some 
running  off,  others  being  sent  to  the  South." 

"  These  difficulties,  I  regret  to  observe,  Captain,  we 
have  been  encountering,  not  from  any  fault  in  the  owners, 
but  from  the  officious  kindness  of  others." 

"  I  am  not  exactly  an  Abolitionist,  'Squire,  I  would  not 
entice  away  slaves  ;  but  if  I  were  to  see  them  on  our  side, 
trying  to  make  their  escape,  I  should  not  trouble  myself 
to  catch  them,  or  to  have  them  caught." 

"  How  would  it  be,  Captain,  if,  shortly  after,  you  were 
to  meet  with  the  owner  or  agent  in  pursuit,  would  you 
give  him  information,  so  as  to  enable  him  to  trail  and 
recapture  the  fugitives  ?" 

"  No,  'Squire,  I  never  charge  my  memory  with  such 
things  ;  I  consider  it  no  business  of  mine." 

u  You  do  not,  Captain  ;  then  you  are  conniving  at  the 
mischief  others  are  doing.  If  it  be  an  offense  to  entice 
away  slaves,  to  aid  and  secrete  them,  all  good  citizens  are 
bound  to  expose  the  offenders,  so  that  they  may  be  brought 
to  punishment.  In  no  other  way  can  you  arrest  this 
dangerous  and  growing  evil." 

"  I  consider  slavery  a  great  curse,  'Squire  ;  I  wash  my 
hands  of  it — I  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  it,  either  the 
one  way  or  the  other." 

"Then,  Captain,  you  discard  all  amity  as  between  the 
States.  Not  only  that,  but  your  most  sacred  constitu 
tional  obligations.  Now,  permit  me  to  remark,  I  am  a 
law-abiding  citizen.  An  unhesitating  submission  to  the 
government  and  laws  of  my  country,  I  hold  to  be  my 
first  and  paramount  duty.  As  a  member  of  this  political 
society,  I  have  made  this  the  great  principle  to  govern 
my  actions  ;  and  I  had  rather  be  blotted  out  of  existence 
than  to  be  an  Anarchist" 

"That  kind  of  devotion  to  government  and  laws, 
'Squire,  may  suit  the  dominion  of  slavery.  Human 
bondage  is  your  delight — you  hug  it  to  your  bosoms  with 
parental  kindness  ;  but  if  I  were  permitted  to  judge,  you 
would  be  infinitely  better  off  without  it.  Your  lands 
would  be  better  cultivated  by  white  labor,  and  you  farmers 
would  realize  more  money." 


UK  V  ^IJLJiLJ.  JL2J. 


"  Of  that  matter,  Captain,  you  ought  to  allow  us  to 
judge.  We  are  well  acquainted  with  Slavery  —  c  it  has 
grown  with  our  growth,  and  strengthened  with  our 
strength,'  until  it  has  interwoven  itself  with  all  the  in 
terests  South;  so  much  so  that  it  cannot  be  destroyed 
now  with  safety." 

"  I  will  venture  to  say,  'Squire,  there  is  not  an  article 
raised  South  that  could  not  be  cultivated  with  more  ad 
vantage  by  white  labor.  How  much  better  it  would  be, 
if  there  were  not  a  black  in  Mississippi,  Texas,  or  any 
Southern  State." 

"  The  heat  of  the  climate,  for  one  thing,  Captain,  is 
insupportable  to  white  laborers.  Exposed  to  the  hot  rays 
of  a  Southern  sun,  they  could  not  bear  the  fatigue  requi 
site  in  cultivating  sugar,  cotton  or  rice,  not  to  say  any 
thing  about  the  fatal  diseases  engendered  by  that  climate. 
And  again,  if  the  negroes  are  to  be  turned  loose  and 
driven  from  the  fields  where  now  employed,  what  shall 
become  of  them  ?  where  shall  they  go  to  ?" 

"  Let  the  race,  like  the  Indians,  dwindle  and  perish, 
'Squire  ;  I  would  care  nothing  about  them  —  the  sooner 
they  get  out  of  the  way  the  better," 

"  What  kind  of  philanthropy  is  that,  Captain  ?  If  that 
is  human  kindness,  God  forbid  I  should  ever  advocate  it. 
You  would  supplant  the  negroes  by  whites,  and  drive 
them  forth,  you  know  not  where,  merely  to  starve.  All 
out  of  pure  affection  for  them.  Would  Indiana  exchange 
whites  for  blacks?  her  constitution  has  put  her  veto  on 
that. 

"  Now,  do  you  not  see  the  complexity  of  slavery,  the 
dangerousness,  the  folly,  of  tampering  with  it,  without  a 
thorough  and  practical  knowledge  of  it  in  all  its  features 
and  minute  ramifications.  Rest  assured,  it  is  an  abstruse 
problem,  not  to  be  solved  by  the  wisest  minds  in  the 
South,  and  yet  shall  strangers  essay  to  touch  it  ?  My 
good  sir,  be  not,  offended  if  1  tell  you  the  course  of  the 
North  in  relation  to  slavery  is  reprehensible  in  the  highest 
degree. 

"The  wild  fanaticism  that  is  suffered  to  take  root  and 
spread  in  that  region,  is  ominous  of  no  good  but  of  im 
mense  evil.  What  is  it  all  for  I  Is  slavery  to  be  thui 
11 


122  ABOLlflOfflSM  t/NVfllLiBD. 

destroyed  ?  Can  the  settled  orders  of  society  be  so  easily 
subverted  ?  The  lamentable  consequences  of  such  an  act 
can  be  scarcely  imagined.  Now  contemplate  them  for  a 
moment.  Here  is  a  system  of  labor  coeval  with  our  ex 
istence  as  a  people.  Soon  after  the  white  man  trod  his  foot 
on  this  Western  World,  African  slavery  was  introduced. 
It  came  uninvited  ;  unsolicited  it  intruded  itself  into  this 
hemisphere.  Though  many  of  the  colonists  remonstrated 
against  it,  yet  old  mother  England,  who  was  then  omni 
potent,  would  have  it  in  her  own  way.  This  no  one  will 
pretend  to  controvert." 

"  I  will  not,  'Squire,  for  that  is  history.  Go  on  with 
your  observations.  Let  us  hear  all  you  can  say  in  de 
fense  of  this  accursed  institution.  I  will  sit  patiently  to 
hear  what  you  may  have  to  utter." 

"Who  made  it  accursed  but  your  imbecile,  trouble 
some,  and  pernicious  fanatics?  The  celebrity  of  "UNCLE 
TOM'S  CABIN  "  is  an  evidence  of  the  public  feeling  and 
bias  of  the  North.  Whatever  panders  to  this  sickly  sen 
timentality  is  caught  up  and  devoured  with  the  greatest 
relish.  The  design  and  tendency  of  that  publication  is 
to  create  animosity  between  the  whites  and  blacks  South, 
or,  in  other  words,  a  war  between  the  two  races.  Would 
not  that  be  a  deplorable  issue  to  these  mighty  efibrts  in 
behalf  of  the  negro  race,  whether  stimulated  by  male  or 
female  f  " 

"Come,  'Squire,  do  not  assail  a  woman.  Mrs.  Stowe 
has  genius  and  talent.  She  has  given  to  the  world  a 
beautiful  specimen  of  literary  pre-eminence." 

"  Call  it  a  novel,  Captain,  a  mere  fiction  to  amuse  and 
entertain  the  public,  and  I  have  no  criticism  to  make. 
You  know  I  am  not  destitute  of  gallantry  ;  but  the  peace, 
the  tranquillity  of  this  great  nation  ought  not  to  be  dis 
turbed  by  an  artful  appeal  to  the  worst  passions  of  the 
human  heart,  even  by  a  female.  Had  she  been  content 
to  let  her  work  go  forth  to  the  world  as  the  imaginings 
of  a  distempered  mind,  no  one  would  have  cared  about 
it;  but  'the  KEY,'  that  was  to  show  its  foundation  in 
authentic  facts,  was  the  greatest  farce  of  all.  The  truth 
of  the  etory  sustained  by  Abolition  authority!  That 
was  too  bad,  but  let  it  paaa." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"  I  am  anxious  to  hear  your  defense  of  this  peculiar  in 
stitution,  'Squire.  You  have  made  a  thrust  at  Mrs. 
Stowe  ;  I  judge  the  blow  will  do  her  no  serious  damage. 
She  will  still  be  admired  for  her  generous  and  zealous 
vindication  of  the  African  race." 

UI  envy  her  no  laurels,  Captain,  she  may  have  won  in 
such  a  contest.  I  will  not  quarrel  with  her  about  her 
peculiar  taste.  But  I  will  never  consent  that  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  shall  be  pulled  down  from  the  elevated  position  he 
occupies  in  the  eyes  of  the  world.  In  form,  in  color, 
dignity,  invention,  yea,  in  everything,  he  stands  confessed 
the  masterpiece  of  human  kind.  At  the  same  time  I  say 
this,  I  am  the  no  less  a  true  friend  to  the  African  in  his 
proper  sphere ;  more  so  than  thousands  who  are  eternally 
prating  in  his  behalf.  Now  I  will  undertake  to  show  we 
are  his  only  true  friends ,  we  know  him,  we  have  a 
friendship  for  him,  not  felt  by  Northern  bosoms." 

"  How  will  you  make  that  appear,  'Squire,  you  who 
hold  them  in  cruel  and  unrelenting  bondage  ?  Their  best 
friends!  I  pray  I  may  never  find  such." 

"Exercise  a  little  patience,  if  you  please,  Captain. 
Do  not  forget  your  admission,  and  that  is  the  truth  too, 
if  Abolitionism  prevails." 

"Do  tell  me  what  is  that,  'Squire?  I  only  proposed 
to  leave  the  negroes  in  the  same  condition  the  Indians 
were — neither  more  nor  less." 

u  You  have  c  defined  your  position,'  Captain,  though 
done,  perhaps,  without  premeditation ;  yet  it  would  be 
the  sure  result  of  emancipation  as  if  predicted  by  an 
ancient  seer. 

"  I  have  mentioned  how  these  Africans  came  to  this 
country.  I  cannot  say  I  am  a  believer  in  special  provi 
dence.  I  am  rather  inclined  to  think  that  God  governs 
this  world  by  certain  immutable  laws  established  at  the 
time  of  Creation.  Be  that  as  it  may,  however,  by  His 
prescience,  no  doubt,  He  foresaw  the  relative  position  the 
various  races  and  colors  of  men  would  occupy  upon  the 
face  of  this  earth.  A  way  was  provided  for  "all  to  sub 
sist—whatever  might  be  the  color — upon  the  bounties  of 
this  great  storehouse  for  His  children.  Food  and  raiment 
were  amply  provided  for  the  whole-— if  judiciously 


124:  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

managed.  The  air  abounds  with  birds,  the  land  with  ani 
mals,  the  water  with  fishes,  and  the  earth  with  fruit  and 
cereals — all  placed  here  for  man's  enjoyment.  '  By  the 
sweat  of  the  brow'  these  great  and  numerous  blessings 
might  be  indefinitely  increased.  Agriculture,  wisely 
managed,  would  make  the  earth  yield  her  golden  harvests, 
the  grass  would  grow  the  more  luxuriantly,  and  upon  it 
more  numerous  herds  of  cattle  would  graze  and  fatten. 

"Tell  me  not,  therefore,  any  of  Adam's  family  must 
necessarily  perish.  Starvation  is  produced  by  our  wick 
edness  and  perversity — by  a  violation  of  those  laws  God 
intended  for  the  regulation  of  society.  He  has  made 
ordinances  by  which  all  the  different  races  and  colors  can 
live  together  in  amity  —  can  mutually  lean  upon  and  aid 
each  other  in  their  pilgrimage  upon  earth.  While  they 
are  reciprocally  co-operating  in  the  various  branches  of 
industry — food  and  raiment  shall  be  produced  in  an  abun 
dance  for  the  whole  human  family." 

"  These  general  observations,  'Squire,  sound  very 
beautifully,  I  feel  a  curiosity  to  see  their  application  to 
the  movements  of  society  in  our  day — or  past  days." 

u  That  you  shall  see,  Captain,  for  I  am  tending  to  that 
point  as  rapidly  as  the  case  admits.  How  came  the 
Africans  to  be  transported  to  this  continent  ?  Was  it  a 
mere  accident,  or  was  it  not  in  conformity  to  the  settled 
policy  of  heaven  ?  I  maintain  the  latter.  Of  all  the 
descendants  of  Adam,  the  negro  only  is  stamped  with 
blackness.  How  this  happened  it  is  not  for  me  to  know — 
I  am  dealing  with  facts.  To  the  Eastern  world  this  con 
tinent  was  unknown  until  the  days  of  Columbus  ;  when  he 
came,  the  Indians  were  standing  on  the  beach  ready  to 
receive  him  —  but  as  the  'pale-faces'  had  come,  their 
doom,  it  seems,  was  to  melt  away. 

uThe  white  race  claimed  this  continent  by  the  right 
of  discovery — it  was  to  be  their  heritage  ;  but  what  was 
Africa  at  that  day  ?  Barbarism  reigned  in  that  benighted 
land ;  as  an  equal  she  could  not  reach  forth  her  hand 
and  claim  a  settlement  in  this  fertile  valley.  What  could 
her  wild,  untutored,  and  savage  children  have  done  alone 
toward  subduing  the  vast  wilderness  that  encompassed 
this  continent,  and  bringing  the  lands  under  the  arts  of 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  125 

the  husbandman  ?  Nothing,  nothing,  unless  guided  and 
controlled  by  a  superior  intelligence. 

"  Was  this  to  them  too  great  a  degradation  ?  By  no 
means.  Two-thirds  of  them  were  enslaved  in  their  own 
country.  It  was  not  the  creation  or  origin  of  Slavery, 
but  only  its  diffusion.  I  would  to  God  Free-Soilism  had 
existed  in  Africa,  and  denied  emphatically  to  Slavery  the 
right  of  expansion  ere  its  poisonous  branch  reached  our 
shores." 

"  What  do  you  say,  'Squire,  that  Slavery  existed  in 
Africa?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  one-third  of  those  people  hold  the  other 
two-thirds  in  absolute,  hereditary  bondage,  and  have 
done,  time  out  of  mind.  They  deal  and  have  dealt  long 
and  very  freely  in  buying  and  selling  human  souls — 
'God's  images,' etc.  —  however  heinous  it  may  seem  to 
many  in  this  day  and  generation. 

"  The  point  I  wished  to  make  is  this :  that  the  negroes 
have  only  changed  masters — that  Slavery  was  their  doom 
at  home,  and  it  is  still  their  doom,  though  greatly  miti 
gated  in  its  severity. 

"Consequently,  they  are  not  injured  by  the  transfer. 
They  are  placed  in  proximity  to  a  superior  race.  They 
have  chances  to  gain,  but  cannot  by  any  possibility  lose. 
Slavery  is  their  proper  position  in  our  country  ;  in  that 
relation  the  whites  are  their  friends  and  protectors — turn 
them  loose  and  they  have  neither — they  become  outcasts 
in  our  society,  despised  and  degraded." 

"  I  do  not  know,  'Squire,  why  this  ought  to  be  so.  This 
prejudice  against  color  perhaps  might  be  overcome." 

"Not  shortly,  if  ever,  Captain.  What  has  your 
State  —  what  has  Illinois  done?  By  your  Constitution, 
the  negro  is  denounced  as  a  nuisance,  not  worthy  of  citi 
zenship  or  foothold  among  you.  Now  let  me  ask  you 
what  would  become  of  the  three  millions  of  slaves,  if  sud 
denly  emancipated  and  made  dependent  upon  such  tender 
mercies  f 

"  'These  creatures  are  now  living  plentifully,  well  clad, 
and  have  good  houses ;  with  their  condition  they  are  con 
tented  and  happy.  And  why  not  let  them  alone  ?  In 
that  relation,  and  that  only,  they  can  remain  with  us  for 


126  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

ages,  so  far  as  I  can  see ;  destroy  that,  and  a  war  of  races 
will  ensue." 

"  We  have,  'Squire,  arrived  at  the  landing  of  the  Queen 
City,  and  here  our  conversation  must  close." 

"I  have  no  objection,  Captain,  for  I  never  expect  to 
make  the  faintest  impression  on  Free-Soilism,  if  I  had  the 
eloquence  of  a  Cicero  or  Demosthenes." 


CHAPTER   XV. 

Arrival  in  Cincinnati — Put  up  at  the  Dennison  House— Visit  a  female 
acquaintance — The  Conversation — An  incident  on  the  street — And 
Departure  on  the  Cars  for  Sandusky  City. 

THE  'Squire  and  David  had  their  baggage  taken  to  the 
Dennison  House,  where  they  remained  all  night.  The 
next  morning  after  breakfast  they  paid  a  visit  to  Mrs. 
Old,  an  acquaintance  of  the  'Squire's,  with  whom  he  had 
the  following  conversation : 

"Well,  Mrs.  Old,"  said  the  'Squire,  "  I  have  called  to 
see  you  on  special  business." 

"  -Pray,  'Squire,  what  can  that  be  ?  I  have  not  seen 
you  since  the  evening  you  accompanied  myself  and  Mrs. 
New  to  hear  Brother  Brisbane  on  the  subject  of  Aboli 
tionism.  I  hope  you  were  greatly  entertained  that  night, 
and  that  you  have  since  seen,  as  he  did,  the  iniquity  of 
Slavery !" 

"  I  cannot  say  as  to  that,  Mrs.  Old.  I  am  a  little  dif 
ferent  from  many.  I  am  slow  in  forming  opinions.  When 
any  question  is  presented  I  go  into  the  investigation  with 
a  determination  thoroughly  to  understand  it.  I  must  read 
and  hear  all  that  can  be  said  pro  and  con.  Having  my 
mind  thus  fully  enlightened,  when  my  judgment  is  made 
I  am  not  apt  to  change,  unless  new,  direct,  and  positive 
testimony  can  be  adduced  of  which  I  was  ignorant  at  the 
time." 

"  Oh  I  you  remember,  'Squire,  how  Brother  Brisbane 


said  his  eyes  were  never  opened  until  he  read  Wayland's 
Treatise  on  Moral  Philosophy.  He  then  saw  how 
wicked  it  was  to  hold  slaves — sold  his,  and  moved  to 
this  city." 

"  I  noticed  that  expression,  Mrs.  Old,  and  could  not 
refrain  from  thinking  what  a  great  sacrifice  he  made.  He 
realized  from  the  sale  of  his  slaves  only  $10,000,  while 
the  real  value  was  a  few" thousand  more." 

"  I  can  tell  you,  'Squire,  I  did  not  relish  that  part  of 
the  story  so  well.  He  ought  to  have  brought  them  along; 
but  he  said  he  dare  not  do  it,  for  fear  of  public  sentiment 
in  South  Carolina,  and,  therefore,  he  had  to  sell  them.  I 
pity  the  poor  man." 

"  He  is  to  be  greatly  pitied,  Mrs.  Old.  He  is  the 
owner,  I  am  told,  of  two  fine  houses  and  lots  in  this  city, 
purchased  with  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  those 
negroes.  ThQ  personality  ^  in  that  way,  has  been  converted 
into  the  reality." 

"But  then  you  know,  'Squire,  he  has  written  back  to 
the  buyer,  if  he  would  give  up  the  negroes  he  would  re 
fund  the  money." 

"  He  took  care,  Mrs.  Old,  to  put  in  the  words,  as  far 
as  he  was  able.  He  may  not,  so  far  as  I  know,  be  able 
to  refund  any  of  it.  I  suppose,  however,  his  friends  here 
will  furnish  it,  and  let  him  hold  on  to  his  real  estate  ; — 
that  would  all  be  very  well." 

u  He  is  sincere,  'Squire,  in  trying  to  procure  the  free 
dom  of  his  negroes.  Did  he  not  read  the  pressing  letter 
he  addressed  to  the  buyer?" 

"Truly  he  did,  Mrs.  Old.  I  am  an  old-fashioned  fel 
low,  you  know — I  go  directly  to  the  object  I  have  in  view. 
Now,  had  I  been  in  your  Brother  Brisbane's  place,  I 
should  have  brought  my  slaves  quietly  along,  and  turned 
them  loose  in  this  city." 

"That  he  would  have  done,  no  doubt,  'Squire,  had 
he  not  been  afraid  of  mob-law.  He  dare  not  have 
done  that,  lest  vengeance  would  have  been  taken  upon 
him." 

"  By  the  use  of  a  little  prudence,  Mrs.  Old,  these  things 
can  be  done  without  causing  excitement.  He  might  have 
prepared  for  emigration  to  Kentucky  or  Missouri,  started 


128  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

on  his  journey,  and  just  dropped  in  here,  not  a  word 
would  have  been  said.  No  one  would  have  followed  him, 
I  dare  say,  to  see  where  he  went ;  neither  would  any  one 
have  cared." 

"  No  two  people  do  things  alike,  'Squire.  Brother  B. 
knew  his  peculiar  situation — the  mobbish  spirit  of  slave 
holders — and  he  was  glad  to  get  away  with  his  life." 

"  And  the  ten  thousand  dollars  ?"  added  the  'Squire. 
"I  confess,  he  is  wiser  than  I  am.  I  should  have  brought 
my  slaves,  liberated  them  here,  and  never  have  once 
thought  how  I  was  to  live  and  support  my  family.  Thus 
penniless  I  should  have  been  cast  among  you.  Not  so 
with  him — he  converted  his  slaves  into  money,  with 
which  he  was  enabled  to  buy  two  houses  and  lots,  the 
annual  rent  being  a  thousand  dollars  per  year." 

"He  now  proposes  you  know,  'Squire,  to  buy  them 
back — he  repents  the  sale  bitterly,  and  their  freedom  he 
feels  much  at  heart." 

"  I  can  but  say,  Mrs.  Old,  this  repentance  comes  rather 
too  late.  What  assurance  has  he  that  his  negroes  can  be 
brought  back  ?  Why  need  he  to  have  run  that  risk  ? 
But  I  can  see  a  little  policy  in  the  scheme  ;  he  has  judi 
ciously  invested  the  cash  arising  from  such  sale.  That 
property  is  his,  and  will  probably  so  remain ;  but  if  the 
slaves  can  be  brought  back,  this  will  create  a  pressing 
emergency  for  the  outpourings  of  his  affectionate  admirers 
in  this  city." 

"  What  a  suspicious  old  soul  you  are,  'Squire  !  You 
are  hard  to  please,  I  fear." 

"  But,  Mrs.  Old,  we  have  wandered  from  the  business 
I  have  on  hand.  My  neighbors  are  suffering  greatly,  their 
slaves  are  enticed  away  and  secreted  by  the  Abolitionists. 
You  and  Mrs.  New  both  assured  me  they  were  not  guilty 
of  such  practices,  and  I  have  no  doubt  you  were  both 
sincere  in  that  opinion.  Your  money  goes  into  the  treas 
ury  of  these  societies,  and  you  are  never  correctly  in 
formed  how  it  is  applied  or  disbursed.  You  are  thus 
innocently  made  the  instruments  of  doing  mischief  to  your 
friends  in  Kentucky." 

"  I  do  not  wish  you  to  think  so,  'Squire.  I  am  certain 
you  are  mistaken.  As  to  Mrs.  New,  she  is  the  most 


ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED.  129 

harmless  and  conscientious  creature  you  ever  knew.  In 
tentionally  she  would  not  do  anything  the  least  wrong." 

"  That  I  freely  admit,  Mrs.  Old.  I  acquit  you  both  of 
any  censure.  You  are  innocent  of  the  secret  machina 
tions  of  Abolitionism.  It  has  a  beautiful  exterior,  makes 
high  sounding  and  benevolent  professions,  while  at  the 
core  there  are  filth  and  rottenness." 

"  Oh !  I  am  astonished  at  such  assertions,  'Squire. 
Our  appeal  is  only  to  the  master — we  have  not  sought  to 
disturb  the  slave,  or  aid  him  off.  We  want  him  to  remain 
where  he  is,  until  we  can  work  out  his  liberation  fairly, 
legally,  and  peaceably." 

u  I  am  apprized  that  was  the  garb  Abolitionism  first 
assumed,  and  by  this  means  wormed  itself  into  the  confi 
dence  of  the  generous  and  warm-hearted  of  your  com 
munity.  You  opened  your  hearts  and  poured  out  your 
treasury,  in  aid  of  a  cause  you  imagined  pious  and  holy. 
But  it  has  most  shamefully  departed  from  its  original 
design." 

"Pardon  my  absence  for  a  moment,  'Squire.  I  will 
step  to  Mrs.  New's  and  bring  you  an  armful  of  documents 
that  will  satisfy  you  of  our  entire  innocency  of  negro- 
stealing." 

"  Go,  with  all  my  heart,  Mrs.  Old.  My  mind  is  open 
to  conviction.  If  I  am  wrong  in  my  surmises,  I  shall  be 
glad  to  be  set  right ;  that  you  know." 

"  Perhaps,  David,"  said  the  'Squire,  "this  will  tend  to 
the  furtherance  of  our  main  design.  No  one  living  hates 
dissimulation  more  than  I  do,  or  to  use  any  kind  of  dis 
guise.  But  you  notice  how  difficult  it  is  to  ferret  out  the 
truth  in  regard  to  Abolitionism.  Here  are  two  noble, 
Christian  ladies — purer  hearts  never  dwelt  on  earth  than 
theirs,  yet  their  money  has  been  filched  from  them  by 
knaves,  and  applied  to  dishonorable  purposes  which  they 
disavow  and  abhor." 

i{  This  world,  uncle,  is  full  of  deception — that  I  see 
the  more  plainly  every  step  we  take  ;  but  here  comes  Mrs. 
Old." 

"  Bless  me  !  'Squire,  look  here  at  the  quantity  of  docu 
ments  kindly  placed  at  your  service.  Mrs.  'New  told 
me  to  assure  you,  upon  the  honor  of  a  lady,  that  your 


130  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

suspicions  were  groundless — that  the  Abolitionists  were 
too  high-minded  and  religious  to  engage  in  enticing  away, 
and  running  off  slaves.  Read  attentively  these  works, 
and  you  will  acknowledge  the  purity  of  our  motives,  and 
our  entire  innocency  of  such  serious  charges  as  you  have 
imputed  to  our  societies." 

"  If  I  am  wrongly  informed,  be  assured,  Mrs.  Old,  I 
shall  be  happy  to  correct  the  error.  In  this  matter,  God 
forbid  I  should  do  any  injustice.  Shall  I  find  in  this 
bundle,  the  Annual  Report  ?" 

"  No,  'Squire,  Mrs.  New  did  not  have  it,  otherwise  she 
would  have  sent  it  along." 

"  I  very  much  regret  it  is  not  here,  Mrs.  Old,  as  I  had 
an  anxiety  to  find  out  the  amount  of  funds  collected,  and 
how  they  were  disbursed ;  but  I  will  take  these  along, 
and  peruse  them  at  my  leisure." 

"  Do  so,  'Squire,  and  we  hope  to  have  your  solemn  ac 
quittal  after  such  perusal." 

"  Perhaps  you  may,  Mrs.  Old." 

The  'Squire  and  David  then  took  their  leave  of  Mrs. 
Old.  The  following  conversation  and  scene  occurred  on 
the  street: 

"Well,  uncle,"  said  David,  "we  have  line  upon  line, 
and  precept  upon  precept.  I  can  tell  you  one  thing,  it 
would  be  hazardous  to  be  caught  in  Mississippi  with 
such  a  bundle.  But  look  yonder — what  does  that  mean?" 

Day -watch  to  a  Negro — "  What  is  that  you  have  con 
cealed  under  your  coat  ?" 

Negro  in  reply — "  D  —  n  you,  what  business  is  that  of 
yours  ?" 

Day -watch — "  I  will  show  you  " — and  seizes  him  by 
the  collar. 

Negro — "  G — d  d — n  you,  let  me  go — why  don't  you 
let  me  go?" 

Day-watch,  to  two  passers-"by — "  Gentlemen,  do  help 
me — don't  let  him  get  away." 

Those  two  men  then  seize  him,  and  help  to  push  him 
along  toward  the  Mayor's  Office.  The  negro  jerks  and 
scuffles,  curses  and  swears,  until  the  officer  and  aids  are 
nearly  exhausted. 

Drayman  stops  and  says — "Here,  gentlemen,  put  him 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  131 

on  my  dray ;  I  will  haul  the  scoundrel  to  the  Mayor's 
Office"." 

He  is  thrown  on  and  held  down — notwithstanding,  he 
clinches  a  dray-pin  and  tries  to  use  it — it  is  taken  from 
him.  He  is  kept  down  by  officers  and  guards  sitting 
upon  him.  He  roars  and  bellows,  the  drayman  going  in 
a  brisk  trot. 

"  What  a  curious  state  of  society,"  remarks  the  'Squire 
to  David  ;  "  why,  these  negroes  are  not  much  tamer  than 
the  ourang-outang.  I  would  not  have  much  choice,  if  1 
had  to  catch  either,  and  I  do  not  think  there  would  be 
much  difference  in  the  resistance." 

"  Did  you  not  notice,  uncle,  he  foamed  at  the  mouth 
like  a  mad  dog — so  terrible  was  the  rage  he  was  in? 
Really,  if  he  had  had  any  weapon  at  all,  he  would  have 
been  a  dangerous  animal  to  handle." 

"  No  doubt  of  it,  David,  he  was  a  desperate  ruffian, 
certainly.  It  evinces  a  degree  of  insubordination  truly 
lamentable.  That  officer  was  on  duty,  and  had  a  right 
to  make  the  inquiry  he  did.  It  only  required,  on  the  part 
of  the  negro,  an  exhibit  of  what  he  had,  and  to  satisfy  the 
police  he  came  by  it  honestly.  That  would  have  ended 
the  difficulty." 

Having  arrived  near  a  large  clothing  store,  the  'Squire 
procures  himself  a  full  suit  of  Quaker  apparel,  David 
being  already  furnished  for  duties  heretofore  performed. 
They  repair  to  their  room  at  the  hotel,  where  they  dress 
themselves  in  this  new  style ;  not  from  any  disrespect  to 
the  Friends,  but  from  a  persuasion  they  could  not  succeed 
upon  the  mission  in  which  they  had  embarked,  without 
using  that  disguise. 

They  ordered  their  baggage  to  the  Dayton  and  Hamil 
ton  depot,  whither  they  repaired,  in  a  few  moments  after. 
Having  procured  tickets,  they  took  their  seats ;  the  whistle 
sounded,  and  the  cars  began  slowly  to  move. 


132  ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER    XYI. 

Conversation  with   an  Eminent  Personage    on  the  way  —  Arrival  in 
Sandusky   City. 

"  THIS  is  friend  Chase,  I  believe?"  said  the  'Squire.  "I 
have  seen  thee  before,  and  thy  features  I  have  not  for 
gotten." 

"  Though  it  is  possible,  we  may  have  met  heretofore, 
yet  you  are  a  stranger  to  me ;  I  cannot  call  to  mind  when 
and  where  I  ever  saw  you  before.  Where  do  you  reside  ? 
and  what  may  be  your  name  ?  " 

"  My  name  is  '  Moon,'  from  the  county  of  Clinton,  in 
this  State." 

u  Let  me  think,"  said  the  Hon.  Mr.  Chase.  "  I  have 
heard  of  persons  of  that  name,  in  Clinton,  who  belonged 
to  the  Society  of  Friends.  I  am  happy  in  having  your 
company  to-day.  The  Quakers  are  all  true  friends  to  our 
cause,  and  I  always  know  where  to  place  them.  I  dare 
say,  your  county  will  roll  me  up  a  very  handsome  ma 
jority  ? " 

"  Yea,  friend  Chase,  Free-Soilism  sweeps  us  all  to  a 
man." 

"  Happy  to  hear  it,  friend.  How  far  may  you  be  go 
ing  on  the  cars  to-day  ? " 

"  I  am  on  a  pilgrimage  to  Canada,  to  intermingle  with 
the  colored  people  who  have  escaped  from  bondage  in 
these  United  States." 

"A  very  laudable  enterprise,  friend  Moon.  I  hope 
you  may  return  more  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  senti 
ments  of  freedom,  and  enjoy  that  crown  of  glory  that 
awaits  those  who  are  struggling  in  behalf  of  oppressed 
humanity ! " 

"  I  wish  no  other  reward,  friend  Chase,  in  what  I 
have  done,  or  may  do,  for  the  good  of  the  ;  panting  fugi 
tive,'  than  a  quiet  conscience." 

"A  noble  disinterestedness,  friend  Moon.  I  wish  I, 
and  all  others,  could  give  ourselves  up  to  that  silent,  but 
unerring  monitor." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  133 

"  Why  canst  thou  not,  friend  Chase  ?  Couldst  thou 
purge  thy  heart  of  the  love  of  office,  of  honor  and  fame, 
thou  mightst  descend  to  the  vale  of  humility,  in  which 
our  Society  doth  delight  to  dwell  !  But  thou  art  now 
aspiring  to  the  gubernatorial  chair  of  this  great  State — 
bein^  a  candidate  for  that  high  office." 

"  I  have  been  nominated,  friend  Moon,  by  a  numer 
ous  and  respectable  convention  of  my  fellow-citizens,  for 
that  distinguished  station ;  and  in  obedience  to  their 
wishes,  I  am  making  this  race." 

"  All  very  proper,  friend  Chase.  I  have  read  thy 
speeches,  in  which  thou  takest  truly  national  ground. 
Thou  hast  been  charged  with  being  a  rabid  Abolitionist, 
who  would  trample  upon  the  constitutional  rights  of  the 
South,  and  involve  thy  country  in  civil  war  1 " 

"  My  enemies,  friend  Moon,  have  done  all  they  could 
to  injure  me  in  public  estimation.  I  yield  to  no  one,  in 
his  devotion  to  this  Union !  I  have  remarked  in  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  that  it  is  like  the  4  blue  arch 
of  heaven,5  that  could  neither  fall  or  decay." 

"A  most  beautiful  figure  of  speech,  friend  Chase. 
And  thou  hast  lately  declared  thou  wouldst  not  trench 
upon  any  of  the  provisions  of  the  Federal  Constitution. 
More  national  sentiments,  no  one  can  utter." 

"  I  am  sure,  friend  Moon,  my  bitterest  enemies  ought 
to  accord  to  me  the  largest  nationality.  If  any  can 
boast  of  better  conservatism,  I  should  like  to  know  who 
he  is  t " 

u  Thou  hast  been  accused,  friend  Chase,  of  an  ambi 
tion  to  form  a  sectional  party,  based  on  the  issue  of 
Slavery  and  Anti-Slavery." 

"  In  this,  great  injustice  has  been  done  to  me,  friend 
Moon.  It  is  true,  I  am  opposed  to  the  extension  of 
Slavery — the  admission  of  any  more  Slave  states,  or  in 
any  way  to  augment  the  slave  power." 

"And  in  that,  thou  canst  not  discern  any  sectional 
ism,  friend  Chase  ?  Thou  wilt  not  -be  offended,  if  I  tell 
thee  thy  nationality  is  a  little  circumscribed — not  quite 
co-extensive  with  the  Union." 

"What  1  are  you  not  in  favor  of  Free-Soilism  ?     You, 


ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED. 

a  Quaker,  to  impugn  ray  nationality,  when  I  have  em 
phatically  announced  it  on  all  proper  occasions !  " 

"  Now,  friend  Chase,  be  not  offended ;  we  judge  the 
tree  by  its  fruit.  There  are  some  things  in  thy  speeches 
that  have  puzzled  me  not  a  little ;  and,  as  I  have  fallen  in 
with  thee,  I  want  to  be  enlightened  upon  those  points  !" 

"  Propound  your  questions,  friend  Moon  ;  I  will  answer 
them  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  and  I  hope,  to  your  entire 
satisfaction." 

"  That,  I  do  not  pretend  to  doubt,  friend  Chase.  Do 
tell  me  for  what  purpose  Government  was  instituted  ?  " 

"According  to  our  Republican  maxim,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  governed" 

"  Thou  sayst  truly,  friend  Chase.  The  great  end  and 
aim  of  all  government,  ought  to  be  to  produce  the  great 
est  degree  of  happiness  and  prosperity  in  the  community." 

"  Our  political  institutions,  if  rightly  administered, 
are  more  wisely  adapted  to  those  purposes  than  any 
others  ever  established,  friend  Moon." 

"  Yea — yea,  friend  Chase ;  if  they  are  executed  in 
their  true  spirit  and  intent.  By  this  means,  the  great 
objects  for  which  this  Union  was  formed,  will  be  accom 
plished.  Be  so  good  as  to  inform  me  who  are  the  parties 
to  the  National  Compact  ? " 

"The  States,  or  the  people  of  the  States,  friend 
Moon." 

"  Yea,  friend  Chase.  I  would  ask  thee  if  Kentucky, 
Virginia,  and  South  Carolina  are  not  as  much  component 
parts  of  this  Union,  as  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  or 
Ohio?" 

"  They  are,  beyond  doubt,  friend  Moon." 

"  Verily,  friend  Chase.  Now,  seeing  Government 
was  instituted  for  the  benefit  of  the  governed — not  for  a 
part,  but  for  all — this  end  will  not  be  subserved,  if  a 
distinction  shall  be  made,  as  among  the  States." 

"A  distinction  !  What  do  you  mean,  friend  Moon  ? 
A  Quaker,  and  treading  on  Pro-Slavery  ground.  I  fear 
you  are  sailing  under  false  colors  !  " 

u  Nay,  be  not  offended  or  alarmed,  friend  Chase.  If 
I  be  a  Quaker,  I  have  not  surrendered  the  liberty  of 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  135 

thought.  Thou  wilt  allow  me  to  express  my  deliberate 
sentiments  on  Free-Soilism — a  subject  of  such  vital  in 
terest  to  the  domestic  tranquillity  of  the  Union.  I  ask 
myself,  is  it  justice  to  prescribe  limits  to  the  South,  and 
that  too,  by  an  act  of  the  National  Government  ?  What 
is  that  Government,  but  the  trustee  or  agent  of  the 
thirty-one  States  which  form  the  Union  ?  Is  it  not,  as 
such,  bound  to  adopt  such  measures,  according  to  our 
political  maxim,  as  will  promote  the  interest  of  all  the 
members  of  the  Union — not  of  the  Free  States  only,  but  of 
the  Slave,  also  ? — otherwise,  it  is  a  traitor  to  its  trust." 

u  Is  that  the  language  of  Quakerism,  friend  Moon  ? 
What  has  become  of  your  love  for  the  colored  man  ?  of 
the  millions  groaning  in  Southern  bondage  ?  " 

"  Though  I  love  the  colored  people,  friend,  yet  I  am 
none  the  less  a  lover  of  this  Union.  Thou  knowest  our 
Society  is  devoted  to  peace ;  it  is  one  of  their  cardinal 
principles,  and  it  deprecates  any  measure  which  will  dis 
turb  the  domestic  tranquillity,  and  eventually  terminate 
in  civil  war.  The  only  way  to  preserve  peace  among  the 
States  is,  by  doing  justice" 

u  That  is  our  end  and  aim.  Free-Soilism,  friend 
Moon,  means  that  and  nothing  more.  We  do  not  pro 
pose  to  interfere  with  Slavery  in  the  States  where  it  now 
exists  ;  we  leave  that  to  their  own  control." 

"  Yea — yea,  friend  Chase.  Wilt  thou  pardon  me,  if 
I  ask  thee  what  is  the  object  of  this  restriction  ?  What 
effect  will  it  have  upon  the  South  ?  Will  it  promote  its 
welfare,  or  oppress  and  dishonor?  If  the  former,  then 
it  is  legitimate ;  if  the  latter,  it  involves  a  betrayal  of  the 
trust  on  the  part  of  the  General  Government." 

"  You  are  asking  insulting  questions,  Mr.  Moon.  I 
am  the  champion  of  Free-Soilism ;  I  bear  its  banners  in 
this  gubernatorial  race.  Politicians  cannot  permit  their 
secret  motives  to  be  elicited  by  such  acute  and  artfully- 
framed  interrogatories.  I  begin  to  suspect,  most  shrewdly 
suspect,  your  Quakerism  is  not  of  the  genuine  stamp  !  " 

"  Nay,  friend  Chase,  be  composed.  Hast  thou  so 
soon  forgotten  thy  nationality — the  'blue  arch  of  the 
heavens  ? '  I  was  only  trying  thee  by  the  square  and 
compass;  I  only  added  this  and  that  together,  to  see 


136  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

what  sort  of  a  Bum  it  would  make.  If  the  result  is  not 
entirely  pleasing,  thou  wilt  excuse  me  for  it :  the  figures 
were  thine — the  addition  constituted  my  offense." 

"  Have  I  not,  Mr.  Moon,  time  and  again,  solemnly 
asseverated  that  I  will  not  trench  upon  any  of  the  pro 
visions  of  the  Federal  Constitution  ?  have  I  not  ex 
pressed,  in  the  strongest  language,  my  ardent  devotion 
to  the  Union  ?  What  more  can  you  require  ?  " 

"  Yea — yea,  friend  Chase ;  but  when  thou  earnest  to 
»  define  more  fully  thy  position,  I  saw  plainly  the  trick — 
the  deception.  The  General  Government,  it  must  be  ad 
mitted,  was  created  for  the  joint  benefit  of  all  the  States ; 
for  their  good  it  was  made,  and  for  each  and  all,  it  is 
merely  a  trustee.  Now,  friend,  how  can  you  make  this 
National  head  inimical  to  the  South?  array  it  in  hostility 
to  the  institutions  of  that  section,  without  making  it,  at 
the  same  time,  violate  its  sacred  trust?  The  general  wel 
fare,  which  it  has  undertaken  to  promote,  must  be  co- ex 
tensive  with  the  Union.  It  can  mean  nothing  less.  Thy 
policy — thou  wilt  bear  with  my  boldness — would  make 
thy  c  blue  arch '  stop  at  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  like  a 
rainbow  cut  off  in  the  middle  !  thy  nationality,  great  as 
it  is,  would  only  embrace  the  Free  States  ;  and  thus,  thy 
blue  arch  would  only  form  a  quarter  of  a  circle  !  " 

"  What  obstinate  blindness,  Mr.  Moon  !  It  seems  as 
if  I  cannot  explain  anything  to  your  satisfaction.  I  am  a 
friend  to  the  South,  as  much  as  you  or  any  one  else; 
only  my  motto  is,  No  more  Slave  States" 

"Ah!  ah!  friend  Chase;  that  tells  the  whole  tale! 
Why  such  a  motto  ?  What  can  be  the  motive,  if  it  is 
not  to  cripple — to  injure  and  degrade  the  South  ?  It  can 
hardly  be  to  build  up  Slavery;  to  strengthen  and  enrich 
it.  Thy  enmity  to  this  peculiar  institution  is  too  noto 
rious  to  suppose  the  latter  is  thy  object.  In  the  settle 
ment  of  the  Territories,  the  National  Government  should 
know  neither  North  nor  South ;  but  observe  a  perfect 
neutrality.  The  South  is  not  to  be  attached  to  this 
Union  by  sectional  or  invidious  legislation.  The  strength 
and  value  of  the  Union  depend  upon  the  general  affection 
of  the  States.  Any  policy  that  has  a  tendency  to  pro 
duce  alienation  among  the  States — to  sow  the  seeds  of 


discord,  ill-will  and  hatred — should  be  discountenanced 
by  all  the  true  patriots  in  the  land." 

u  I  have  avowed  my  attachment  to  the  Union  so  often, 
Mr.  Moon,  that  it  is  really  irksome  to  repeat  it.  Of  this 
fact  you  can  find  an  abundance  of  evidence  in  all  my 
public  acts." 

"I  know  thy  political  history  'like  a  book,'  friend 
Chase.  I  have  read  attentively  all  thy  speeches,  whether 
delivered  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  or  elsewhere, 
and  I  could  not  refrain  from  setting  thee  down  a  most 
dangerous  Abolitionist  and  a  bitter  and  uncompromising  • 
foe  to  the  South.  Thou  mayst  float  into  the  chair  of  State 
in  Ohio,  on  the  impetuous  waves  of  Free-Soilism*  but  thy 
eyes  are  fixed  on  the  highest  office  in  the  gift  of  this  great 
nation.  Free-Soilism  will  be  inadequate  to  bear  thee  to 
that  distinguished  station,  notwithstanding  thy  warm 
professions  of  nationality,  and  k  thy  blue  arch  in  the 
heavens.' " 

"  Sir,  do  you  venture  to  assail  my  character — to  call  in 
question  my  repeated  declarations  ?  Do  you  suppose,  sir, 
1  can  bear  such  insults  ?" 

"  Nay,  friend  Chase,  be  not  enraged.  I  am  a  man  of 
peace.  I  love  domestic  tranquillity.  I  am  for  the  Union 
as  it  is  —  I  want  nothing  better.  Let  the  South  grow  — 
let  her  expand,  if  she  chooses,  I  will  not  fix  barriers  to 
her  greatness  and  prosperity;  and  I  can  repeat,  with 
propriety,  the  same  language  to  the  North.  I  am  not, 
thank  God,  an  enemy  to  either." 

u  I  am  done  with  all  such  Moons,  and  I  hope  there  are 
few  such  in  the  world." 

"Well,  let  him  go,"  said  Moon  to  himself;  "I  care 
not — he  is  a  time-serving  politician,  at  best.  He  is  art 
fully  blowing  up  sectional  strife.  Only  think  of  his 
opinion  in  relation  to  the  Fugitive-Slave  Law!  There  he 
shows  his  cloven  foot  plainly — he  holds  that  to  be  uncon 
stitutional.  Oh,  no!  Congress  must  not  dare  to  constrain 
the  delivery  up  of  fugitive  slaves.  He  has  not  thought 
it  expedient  to  tell  us  how  that  duty  should  be  performed. 
Should  he  be  so  fortunate  as  to  be  elected  Governor  of 
Ohio,  would  he  recommend  to  the  Legislature  to  enact  a 
law  to  secure  effectually  to  the  owners  the  return  of  fugi- 
12 


138  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

tive  slaves  ?  Aha  !  that  is  the  rub  !  We  may  live  to  see ; 
but  if  I  were  allowed  to  judge,  the  objection  is  not  so 
much  to  the  power  whence  the  law  emanates,  as  to  the 
surrendering  of  them  at  all.  However,  we  are  at  the 
end  of  our  journey  for  to-day — here  is  Sandusky  City!" 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

At  a  Hotel — The  'Squire  goes  out  to  see  a  man  hung — A  Dialogue  over 
heard  between  two  men. 

"  BARKEEPER,"  said  Moon,  "  thou  wilt  take  care  of  our 
baggage.  We  will  depart  on  the  first  boat  going  up  the 
lake.  What  is  the  cause  of  so  great  an  assemblage  of 
people  in  your  city  to-day  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,  a  poor  one-legged  man  has  to  be  hung  to 
day.  Men,  women,  and  children  all  have  come  out  to 
witness  the  sad  spectacle." 

"  Yea,  friend,  such  distressing  scenes  create  an  undue 
degree  of  excitement.  I  will  also  go,  but  not  from  the 
motives  that  influence  others." 

Friend  Moon  was  standing  in  the  crowd  around  the 
gallows,  where  he  overheard  the  following  dialogue  : 

"  I  tell  you,  Tom,  this  Oberlin  is  getting  to  be  a  sweet 
place ;  the  two  races,  black  and  white,  are  educated  there 
together  upon  a  system  of  perfect  equality.  The  object 
is  to  remove  the  prejudice  against  color,  and  produce 
amalgamation." 

"  Disgraceful !  John.  I  tell  you  it  is  disgraceful — it  is 
enough  to  sink  any  set  of  white  people  in  the  world.  I 
am  a  poor  man,  you  know,  and  have  daughters,  but 
rather  than  any  one  of  them  should  ever  marry  a  nigger 
I  would  prefer  to  see  her  dead  and  buried  fifty  times 
over." 

"  That  is  just  as  any  one  is  raised,  Tom.  If  you  had 
been  taken  when  you  were  young,  and  had  been  brought 
up  with  black  children,  perhaps  you  would  not  have  felt 


this  prejudice.  At  the  age  of  maturity  you  might  have 
fancied  a  Hack,  in  preference  to  a  white  lady." 

"  No,  never,  never!  John.  I  was  not  born  with  such 
a  taste.  Commend  me  to  the  white  woman  forever. 
Between  Tier  and  a  negro  wench,  in  making  choice,  gods ! 
I  would  not  hesitate  a  moment." 

"  But  you  must  remember,  Tom,  this  College  at  Ober- 
lin  was  founded  by  a  branch  of  the  Presbyterians  who 
call  themselves  Perfectionists.  They  are  striving  to 
introduce  a  purer  state  of  society  than  has  hitherto 
existed." 

"Blast  such  hopes,  John.  Who  wants  any  female 
more  beautiful  than  the  pure  Anglo-Saxon  ?  She  comes 
up  to  my  ideas  of  a  perfect  beauty.  If  Africa  can  turn 
out  any  creature  so  bewitching,  I  confess  I  am  ignorant 
of  it.  Of  one  fact  I  am  certain  ;  our  race  will  not  be 
improved  by  this  process  of  amalgamation." 

"  I  can  tell  you  another  thing,  Tom,  this  College  keeps 
many  young  men  at  the  South,  collecting  up  slaves  and 
running  them  to  Oberlin,  whence  they  are  shipped  to 
Canada,  either  from  the  mouth  of  Black  river,  Vermilion, 
or  Cleveland." 

"  You  certainly  must  be  mistaken,  John.  Such  holy, 
devout  men,  as  I  take  the  professors  to  be,  cannot 
stoop  to  work  so  disreputable  —  it  would  be  too  great  a 
disgrace." 

u  I  know  it  is  so,  Tom.  I  reside  near  that  college,  and 
am  well  apprized  of  what  is  going  on." 

u  You  astonish  me,  John.  No  wonder  that  slave 
holders  complain  of  this  State.  Kentucky  is  our  neigh 
bor,  one  of  the  members  of  the  Union,  and  deserves 
better  treatment  at  our  hands.  We  bound  ourselves  by 
the  Federal  Compact  to  deliver  fugitives  from  labor — that 
was  our  solemn  undertaking.  We  are  not  only  failing  to 
perform  that  duty,  but  are  employing  emissaries  to  visit 
the  near  States  to  tamper  with  their  slaves,  to  seduce 
them  away,  and  aid  them  in  making  their  escape.  Is  not 
this  intolerable?" 

"  I  can  assure  you,  Tom,  if  this  conduct  be  continued, 
it  must  involve  this  country  in  great  trouble.  It  seems 
to  me,  Abolitionism  is  a  dangerous  and  increasing  evil. 


US  VEILED. 


It  flows  from  a  bad  spirit  — a  desire  to  meddle  in    Q 
domestic  concerns  of  others.     We  are  not  content  o 
regelate  our  internal  concerns  in  oar  own  way,  but  j 
must  intrude  our  good  offices  into  other  people's  affa 
to  their  great  detriment  and  our  own  discredit/' 

So  it  looks  to  me,  John.   1  do  not  like  Slavery.  I  j  i 
free  from  it— -if  it  be  a  tin — it  don't  lie  at  my  do 
Those,  where  it  is  tolerated,  will  have  to  answer  for  it 
the  bar  of  heaven.     I  or  you  will  be  held  to  no  resp< 
sibility  in  relation  to  it ;"  but  there  are  people  in  ti 
world  so  supremely  wise  and  good,  at  least  in  their  ov 
estimation,  they  are  always  complaining  of  one  thing 
another.     They  would,  I  "believe,  if  they  had  the  powi 
revolutionize  the  present  order  of  society,  and  convt 
everything  into  chaos." 

"Mischievous  souls  they  must  be,  Tom.  Take  Slavei 
for  example  —  that  is  an*  institution  peculiar  to  fiftet 
States  of  this  Union.  Those  States  have  a  fraction  ov< 
6,000,000  of  whites  and  3,000,000  of  slaves.  The  negroi 
are  now,  and  they  have  been  tor  a  series  of  years,  he! 
in  bondage.  In  that  relation  hitherto  they  have  live 
contentedly  and  happily — if  let  alone,  they  may  continu 
to  do  so.  We  may  do  great  injury  by  trying  to  fore 
emancipation.  It  will  come  in  its  own  proper  time — th 
way  will  be  gradually  prepared,  and  it  will  be  achieve* 
almost  insensibly  and  quietly/' 

u  So  I  believe,  John.  The  consent  of  the  owners,  it  is- 
clear  to  me,  ought  to  be  the  very  first  preliminary.  Grea* 
changes  of  this  kind  must  be  made  without  violence  and 
bloodshed.  Mutual  consent  does  away  all  wrong.  I  have 
often  thought  of  a  portion  of  the  Old  Testament  that  is 
in  point.  The  Jews  had  groaned  in  bondage  for  hundreds 
of  years,  but  they  were  not  to  be  liberated  without  the 
content  of  Pharoah.  Moses  was  authorized  to  display 
miracles  before  him,  and  to  bring  plagues  upon  the  people 
of  Egypt  in  order  to  procure  that  consent,  but  without  it 
not  a  foot  was  to  move ;  showing  clearly,  God  would  not 
rashly  abrogate  a  long-standing  relation.  Let  others 
profit  by  this  example  for  it  is  right  and  just" 

"  Now  compare  that,  Tom,  to  Abolitionism  that  creeps 
forth  in  the  dark,  in  the  dead  silence  of  night,  while  the 


ovier  reposes  upon  his  pillow,  in  conscious  security,  it  is 
atvork  distilling  its  poison  into  the  ear  of  the  unsuspect- 
in  slave.  It  does  not  come  boldly  up,  like  Moses  in  the 
prsence  of  Egypt's  potent  king,  and  demand  him  to  let 
tb  slaves  go  free.  Oh,  no!  its  mischief  is  all  done  in 
seret." 

•  That,  and  that  alone,  is  sufficient,  John,  to  make  me 
ahor  Abolitionists  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart.  They 
Ian  themselves  into  Societies  —  beg  money  to  carry  on 
thir  clandestine  work.  I  have  too  much  pride  and  self- 
r-fpect  to  go  into  any  State  and  violate  its  penal  statutes. 
/I  the  Slave  states  make  it  a  penitentiary  offense  to 
tmper  with  or  entice  away  slaves.  I  would  not  be  incar- 
c  ated  in  one  of  these  loathsome  workhouses,  tenanted 
1  most  hardened  and  reprobate  offenders,  for  all  the 
r^roes  in  Christendom.  Some  may  glory  in  such  mar- 
u-dom,  but  I  am  not  one  of  those." 

"Ah!  Tom,  that  bespeaks  a  true  lover  of  his  country  — 
:  true  American  at  heart.  A  laic-abiding  citizen  is 
uher  a  rarity  in  these  modern  times.  A  reverence  for, 
ad  an  implicit  obedience  to  the  laws  of  our  country, 
the  palladium  of  our  safety.  Trample  these  under 
)ot,  and  what  will  follow  ?  Anarchy  and  mobism,  the 

ecursors  of  sanguinary  revolutions.  Whatever  they 
iay  be,  therefore,  we  must  conform,  in  all  places  and  upon 

1  occasions,  to  the  laws  of  the  land." 

a  That  is  the  noble  voice  of  patriotism,  John,  that  has 
sen  too  long  silenced  by  this  mad  fanaticism,  that,  like 

hurricane,  has  swept  over  the  North,  bearing  down  all 
ostacles,  until  it  has  brought  this  Union  into  the  most 
nminent  peril.  Instead  of  domestic  tranquillity,  the 
<"orth  is  arrayed  against  the  South  —  the  sword  is  sharp- 
aing  for  mutual  slaughter.  May  I  never  see  the  day 
rat  will  make  these  States  aliens  and  enemies  to  each 


B 

"  Neither  do  I,  Tom,  desire  to  be  a  spectator  of  such 
,n  awful  calamity.  May  this  poor  body  of  mine  be  re- 
urn  ed  to  the  mother-earth,  ere  that  bloody  day  shall  be 
ishered  in." 


14:2  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

SOLILOQUY   OF   FBIEND    MOON. 

"A  pair  of  noble  fellows,  upon  iny  soul.  What  patri 
otism — what  devotion  to  the  government,  laws,  and  insti 
tutions  of  the  country !  I  will  seek  them  and  form  an 
acquaintance.  But  lo !  the  poor  culprit  is  dangling  in 
the  air,  in  the  last  agonies  of  death — they  have  disap 
peared  in  the  crowd — I  shall  see  them  no  more.  I  must 
make  my  way  back  to  the  tavern,  and  hurry  on  my  jour 
ney.  Nevertheless,  their  words  are  printed  on  the  tablets 
of  my  heart — they  shall  endure  to  the  end  of  my  days.  I 
would  to  God  such  sentiments  could  find  a  response  in 
every  bosom — then  our  Union  would  be  perpetual." 


CHAPTEK   XVIII. 

Depart  to  Amherstburg  on  the  steamer  Constitution — Conversation  at 
the  Landing  with  a  Water-carrier — With  a  negro  in  Jail. 

"  I  CAN  but  admire,"  said  the  'Squire  to  David,  "the 
mechanism  of  this  noble  steamer,  '  Constitution.'  She 
is  made  strong,  and  all  vessels  ought  to  have  strength  to 
bear  up  in  the  raging  storm,  and  ride  the  mountain  wave. 
So  ought  our  Federal  Constitution  be  endued  with  suffi 
cient  strength  to  ride  through  the  storms  of  factions  and 
fanaticism.  The  skill  of  the  pilot  is  essential  to  enable 
her  to  pass  triumphantly  over  the  howling  sea ;  so  it  is 
with  the  vessel  of  State,  much  depends  upon  the  Presi 
dent,  who  shall  guide  us  amidst  the  many  dangers  that 
environ  the  nation." 

"  Yes,  uncle,"  responds  David,  "  he  must  be  a  man  of 
vast  knowledge,  enlarged  political  experience,  consum 
mate  wisdom,  great  magnanimity,  and  a  true  friend  to  the 
Union  :  for  no  other  will  be  able  to  govern  this  nation  in 
peace  and  tranquillity." 

"  Soon,  David,  we  will  tread  on  foreign  soil ;  I  feel  a 
desire  to  visit  Canada— to  mingle  freely  with  the  people. 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  14:0 

Somehow  or  other  I  have  fancied  that  Monarchy  has  a 
little  more  energy  in  enforcing  the  laws  and  preserving 
the  peace,  than  our  turbulent  democracy.  We  shall  have 
a  chance  now  to  enjoy  the  ample  security  which  monarchy 
affords." 

"  I  have  never,  uncle,  been  out  of  my  own  country. 
Although  monarchy  is  said  to  be  the  strongest  kind  of 
government,  yet  I  do  not  feel  much  admiration  for  it. 
Here  is  Amherstburg;  we  shall  soon  have  a  chance  to 
enjoy  the  benefit  of  British  laws  and  protection." 

"  We  will  go  ashore,  David,  we  may  learn  something 
of  value  in  relation  to  the  condition  of  the  colored  race  in 
her  Majesty's  provinces." 

"  See  there,  uncle,  is  a  white  man  with  two  buckets  of 
water— one  suspended  on  each  side  to  a  collar  across  his 
shoulders.  That  must  be  a  slow  and  laborious  way  of 
supplying  the  town  with  water." 

"  So  it  must  be,  David.  I  will  approach  him  and  make 
some  inquiries." 

u  Look  here,  my  old  friend,"  said  the  'Squire,  "  is  that 
the  way  white  men,  in  this  country,  have  to  toil  for  a 
living «" 

"  Be  sure,  stranger,  what  business  is  that  of  your'n. 
We  have  to  turn  our  hands  to  anything  to  make  a 
penny." 

"  Even  to  wear  a  wooden  collar,  old  friend  ?  Why 
we  treat  horses  a  little  better  than  that  where  I  come 
from." 

"  Fray,  mist'r,  none  of  your  'sinuations.  Might  I  be 
so  bold — what  place  did  you  come  from  ?" 

"From  the  United  States,  old  friend." 

"  Yery  well,  stranger ;  do  you  think  to  come  over  here 
and  insult  her  Majesty's  subjects  ?  You  be  now  under 
the  laws  of  England." 

"  I  hope  they  are  good  laws,  old  friend,  and  I  do  not 
intend  to  violate  them." 

tc  I  s'pose  not,  stranger;  but  how  quick  ye  're  arter  mak 
ing  fun  of  me,  a  poor  old  man,  who  has,  to  keep  from  starv 
ing,  to  carry  these  two  buckets  of  water  to  the  back  part 
oAhe  town.  This  is  my  daily  work,  from  early  in  the 
morning  till  late  at  night.  If  ye  had  to  do  this  hard 


144  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

labor  for  the  few  pennies  I  get,  ye  would  not  be  so  full  of 
fun." 

4tNow,  old  friend,  don't  get  offended  at  my  familiarity. 
I  regretted  to  find  white  men  wearing  wooden  collars  in 
this  country.  I  came  here  with  higher  expectations. 
Horses  and  carts  perform  that  labor  with  us — it  would  be 
too  slow  a  business  for  us  entirely.  And  then  we  would 
not  let  our  horses  use  so  hard  a  collar  as  yours,  made  out 
of  wood." 

"  Look  ye,  stranger,  if  ye  .don't  mind  how  ye  talk,  ye 
will  have  an  iron  collar  on,  darn  quick.  Don't  ye  see 
th'  boys,  with  the  red  jackets  on,  perading  the  town,  with 
them  shining  muskets  ?  Them  is  the  chaps  that  will  do 
the  work  for  all  such  patriots.  Now,  do  ye  keep  a  sharp 
look  out." 

"  You  surely,  old  friend,  would  not  serve  a  stranger  in 
that  way — men  who  came  over  to  travel  in  these  pro 
vinces,  and  to  see  a  few  old  acquaintances.  I  want  to  find 
a  few  colored  people  I  once  knew,  and  if  I  find  them  all 
wearning  IRON  COLLARS,  I  shall  lose  no  time  in  getting 
out  of  this  country,  lest  it  may  be  my  fate.  I  will  curse 
Queen  Victoria  and  her  people  —  I  mean  after  I  get 
back." 

"Aha !  stranger,  it  is  well  ye  put  them  words  in.  Ye 
can't  vent  them  curses  here.  Our  gracious  Queen  can't 
do  any  wrong.  Ye  'Publicans  are  not  fit  for  no  country — 
best  stay  on  your  own  side  of  the  lake.  Now  ye  have  the 
truth  in  good  yarnest." 

"  Where,  my  old  friend,  can  I  find  the  colored  people  ? 
are  there  any  living  in  this  town  ?" 

"  What,  stranger,  them  black  people? — the  hull  country 
be  full  of  'em.  They  be  in  the  army,  in  the  town,  in  the 
jails — them  be  everywhere.  What  State  be  ye  from  ?" 

"  From  Ohio,  old  friend." 

"  Well,  then,  stranger,  ye  can  go  in  among  them  ; 
but  people  from  them  slave  States  better  make  them 
selves  scarce  in  this  land — them  niggers  will  eat  ?em  up 
alive." 

The  'Squire  and  David  repair  to  a  tavern,  and  register 
their  names  as  from  Ohio. 

The  'Squire  goes  on  a  visit  to  the  jail,  where  he 


happened  to  meet  with  a  fugitive  slave,  with  whom  he 
enters  into  the  following  conversation  : 

"  Why,  Massa  Henry,  is  dat  you !  Oh !  blessy  me 
how  glad  I'm  to  see  you  once  more  on  'arth." 

"  Is  this  Phil,  that  left  our  county  many  years  ago  ?" 

"Ah!  dis  is  de  same  old  nigger.  God  bless  dat  good 
place  Kentucky,  foreber.  Oh !  fool  I  was  eber  to  leave  de 
hum  I  had.  Dem  Ab'litioners  cheated  poor  Phil  dak 
time.  Dey  gets  me  off  to  dis  land,  by  tolding  of  me  dis 
was  a  paradise  of  a  place.  I  comes  over  here  wid  your 
boys,  Jack  and  Joe,  and  now  you  sees  my  fix." 

"it  is  bad  enough  I  should  say,  Phil.  I  find  you 
heavily  ironed  and  fastened  to  the  floor  in  this  dark,  dis 
mal  room." 

"  God  be  marciful  to  me !  Poor'Phil  is  undone  now 
I  'm  kotched  at  last.  Oh!  Massa  Henry,  I  've  bin  bad— 
berry  bad!  When  I  had  a  hum,  plenty  to  eat,  warn 
house  to  sleep  in,  and  good  clothes,  I  warn't  sati'fied — 1 
must  try  dis  land,  and  I 's  come  to  —  Oh !  Lord,  marcy 
upon  me ! — you  see  what  ?" 

"  You  must,  Phil,  have  committed  some  very  great 
crime  from  the  precautions  taken  to  keep  you  in  place. 
These  impenetrable  walls  and  heavy  iron  doors  and 
windows  were  not  thought  sufficient  of  themselves  to 
hold  you." 

"  Well,  Massa  Henry,  the  jig  is  up  wid  me  now.  It's 
no  Vantage  to  me  to  lie — the  sentens  is  'nounced  on  me. 
Here  me  lays  on  dis  cold,  hard  floor,  bound  down  wid 
dese  heaby  irons,  without  a  fend  in  dis  world.  I  tinks 
ober  my  hull  life.  I  tinks  of  you  all  in  Kantuck,  of  dese 
people  here,  and  I  tells  you  the  nigger  is  a  poor  critter 
wid  de  white  man  anywhar." 

"Why,  Phil,  I  had  supposed  that  when  the  negroes 
reached  Canada,  they  would  have  met  with  warm-hearted 
friends  to  assist  them  to  everything  they  needed.  The 
British  government  has  been  very  gracious  to  them,  and 
I  supposed  the  people  here  would  have  been  equally 
friendly." 

"All  but  dat,  Massa  Henry.     I  tells  you  what,  if  any 
nigger  comes  here,  and  'spects  dat,  if  he  aint  bit  thar  's 
no  truth  in  dis  nigger.     I  tells  you  what,  dis  people  am 
13 


146  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

colder  than  dis  country.  Dey  loves  nigger,  eh !  Any- 
t'ing  but  dat!  Dere  love  is  jist  like  de  love  de  wolf  has 
for  de  lamb.  Dat  you  '11  see." 

"  I  hardly  know  how  to  believe  that,  Phil,  it  is  so  dif 
ferent  from  the  intelligence  circulated  among  the  slaves 
in  Boone.  The  idea  prevails  there,  that  her  gracious 
Majesty  has  set  apart  a  portion  of  her  public  domain  in 
these  provinces,  for  the  exclusive  benefit  of  fugitive  slaves 
from  the  United  States,  and  that  the  Canadians  will 
receive  them  with  open  arms.  The  Abolitionists  are  the 
agents  in  the  North  to  carry  out  this  benevolent  plan  of 
her  Majesty." 

"  The  Ablishners!  a  thousand  curses  on  dere  heads  for 
cheating  poor  nigger  out  of  his  eyes!  I  knows  how  dey 
comes  ober  dar,  and  what  fine  parlaber  dey  has.  You 
wouldn't  tink  honey  could  melt  in  sich  moufs.  Dey  get 
us  off,  and  helps  us  to  come  ober  here,  den  we  sees  dem 
no  more." 

u  What  is  the  reason  you  can't  make  a  living  among 
these  people  ?  Can  you  not  find  employment  at  good 
wages  ?" 

"  We  comes  here,  Massa  Henry,  berry  poor  —  not'ing 
in  God's  yearth  to  live  upon.  I  brot  my  wife  and  chil- 
ders  along  —  dat  you  knows.  I  went  to  dis  farmer,  den 
to  dat.  I  sez,  4  give  me  work.'  '  No,  no!'  dey  sez  ;  ;  don't 
want  you.  I  wouldn't  bord  you  dis  long  winter  for  all 
dat  you  can  do.'  Dere,  tinks  I,  now  what 's  I  'm  to  do  ? 
Wife,  childers,  all  be  starbing  for  sum  bread.  I  goes 
hum,  and  sure  enough,  all  went  to  sobbing  and  crying 
when  dey  heerd  I  could  get  not'in  for  dem  to  eat.  Dey 
kept  sayin,  'I've  be  starvin!  how  can  we  lib  widout 
sometin  to  eat?'  My  poor  heart  was  broke  in  two.  I 
goes  agin — and  agin — but  finds  no  work.  Den  I  begs  a 
leetle  meat  and  bread,  jist  to  keep  us  alive." 

"  Why  did  you  not,  Phil,  go  upon  the  public  lands,  set 
apart  for  you  and  others  like  you  ?" 

"  Gaze  I  could  do  not'in  dere,  Massa  Henry.  I  warn't 
able  to  build  me  a  house,  to  clar  de  land,  and  lib  sich 
time  tell  I  could  make  a  crap.  We  'd  bin  all  starbed  to 
death  afore  dat  could  be  done.  I  tells  you  dat  land  does 
no  poor  nigger  any  good.  Dat  I  knows,  caze  he  couldn't 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

starb  menny  days.  I  tells  you  what,  dis  same  Phil  made 
a  trial  of  dat  only  tree  or  four  days,  and  if  I  didn't  feel 
as  doe  I  was  jist  pinched  right  in  two,  den  you  may  tell 
dis  nigger  he  knows  not'in." 

"  Now,  Phil,  what  great  crime  have  you  committed 
that  has  placed  you  in  these  bonds  ?  I  did  not  consider 
you  a  desperate  rogue  when  you  left  our  State.  Indeed  I 
believe  I  never  heard  of  your  stealing  at  all." 

"Dat's  true — dat's  true,  Massa  Henry.  I  neber  took 
anyt'ing  that  warn't  mine.  I  was  one  honest  nigger 
dere — dat's  sure;  but  arter  I  comes  out  to  dis  place,  dis 
Phil  be  no  longer  de  same  persin.  I  knows  of  a  woman 
libing  not  far  off,  what 's  had  money  in  de  house.  Wicked 
thots  crept  into  dis  head — de  money,  tinks  I,  must  hab. 
So  one  night  I  creeps  into  dat  woman's  house  to  get  dat 
money;  but  it  was  no  go  —  dere  be  white  men  in  dat 
house  I  knows  not  of — dey  jumps  up,  ketches,  and  binds 
me,  right  in  de  berry  act.  Now  you  sees  the  dicament 
I'm  in." 

"  But,  Phil,  what  is  the  punishment  for  this  offense 
against  the  laws  of  the  country?" 

u  I  was  brot  to  trial,  Massa  Henry  ;  dat  ditement  was 
read,  de  witnesses  all  comes  up  and  swears  I  comes  dere 
to  rob  dat  house,  in  de  dead  hour  of  de  night ;  den  one 
lawyer  gets  up  to  parlarber  for  me,  den  t'other  to  crimi 
nate  dis  poor  nigger.  Den  twelve  men,  dat 's  called  the 
jury,  all  marched  off,  one  arter  t'other,  to  dere  room. 
Howsomeber,  dey  soon  comes  back  agin  wid  the  werdict 
'Guilty.'" 

u  Those  are  the  forms  of  the  law  in  such  cases.  What 
was  the  penalty?" 

"  Dat  is  the  worst,  arter  all,  Massa  Henry.  Phil  leabs 
dis  land  —  his  wife  and  childers  neber  more  to  see 'm. 
Poor  tings!  they  '11  hab  no  one  to  help  'em — cast  off  here 
mong  strangers  and  enemies  to  dere  race.  Oh  !  slabery  ! 
I  would  dat  we  ware  all  back  in  dy  arms!  Dat  would 
be  a  blessing  to  sich  freedom  as  dis.  Poor  'fatuated 
beings  am  we — dese  poor  niggers!  I  had  a  hum — a  good 
hum,  whar  I  could  have  libed  in  peace — so  it  was  wid  my 
wife  and  childers,  dey  was  all  libing  well,  but  dat 
wouldn't  do.  I  was  'duced  to  come  out  here  wid  dem  to 


14:8  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

this  climate  of  etarnal  winters,  where  I  s'posed  we'd  lib 
wid  each  other  all  de  time ;  but  we  are  to  be  parted  now 
foreber.  I'm  to  go  —  I'll  try  to  tink  —  Oh!  dis  crazy 
old  pate  ob  mine!  I  can't  tink  at  all.  Well,  I  members 
dat  cussed  spot  where  I'm  banished,  dey  calls,  I  tink, 
Vandigirfs  Land,  or  some  sich  place." 

"  How  far  off  is  that,  Phil  ?" 

"Dat's  past  my  telling — its  'yond  the  quater  some- 
whar,  and  t'other  side  of  de  yarth  beside.  The  north  star 
dat  is  hid  from  de  sight,  and  the  sun  rises  t'other  side  of 
me.  My  poor  brains  will  neber  turn  round  to  understand 
dese  tings.  Dat  land  may  be  near  on  to  dat  place  whar 
de  fire  is  neber  quinched ;  but  it  is  afar  off  from  de  sight 
of  heaben." 

"  Let  me  say  to  you,  Phil,  you  have  no  one  to  blame 
but  yourself  for  this  trouble  and  disgrace.  You  were 
differently  situated  once ;  you  had  a  kind  master  and 
mistress,  who  took  care  of  you  in  sickness  and  in  health — 
they  administered  to  all  your  wants — you  suffered  for 
nothing ;  and,  in  return,  you  were  required  to  labor  no 
more  than  all  poor  people  have  to  do,  let  their  color  be 
what  it  may.  There  is  no  other  conceivable  way  but  by 
labor,  to  make  a  living." 

u  Dem  words,  Massa  Henry,  are  true,  ebery  one  of 
them.  Yes,  yes,  de  kindness  I  had  in  dat  good  old  land, 
I  neber  shall  forget.  Dem  blessed  days  gone,  neber  to 
return.  When  you  gits  back,  you'll  see  my  good  master 
and  missis,  tell  'em  how  you  sees  de  last  of  Phil ;  dey 
may  be  sorry  to  hear  dis,  but  dey  can't  help  poor  Phil, 
now,  he  aint  in  dere  reach.  I  '11  not  lib  to  get  to  Yandi- 
gin's  land — I'll  die  by  de  way ;  dis  poor  body  of  mine 
must  be  cast  in  de  deep  to  feed  dein  big  fishes  dat  swims 
in  sich  big  waters.  Oh,  Lard's  marcy,  dat's  to  be  my 
end  arter  all." 

"  Be  composed,  Phil,  your  punishment  is  just.  Hon 
esty  is  the  best  policy  in  all  places,  and  under  all  circum 
stances." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  149 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

'Squire  Gray  and  David  discovered  to  be  from  Kentucky — The  Insult — 
The  Negro  Mob — Their  flight  and  arrival  in  Detroit. 

'SQUIKE  GRAY  having  returned  to  the  tavern,  he  and 
David  were  seated  on  a  sofa,  in  a  back  room ;  to  their 
surprise  a  large  negro  fellow  enters,  deliberately  seats 
himself  by  the  'Squire,  and  throws  his  ponderous  legs 
across  his  lap,  at  which  the  former  immediately  rises,  and 
paces  the  floor  in  a  great  rage.  In  the  meantime,  the 
latter  quickly  retreats. 

"  I  tell  you,  David,"  said  the  'Squire,  "  this  is  too  great 
an  insult  to  be  borne.  I  understand  its  meaning — it  is  to 
bring  on  a  row ;  such  liberty  would  not  be  taken  without 
a  wicked  design.  Get  out  our  bowie-knives  and  revolv 
ers  ;  let  us  arm  for  defense.  If  those  devilish  scoundrels 
think  proper  to  attack  us,  let  us  make  it  cost  them 
dear" 

"  Is  this  the  kind  of  society,  uncle,  that  we  are  to  meet 
with  in  these  provinces  ?  Can  we  not  travel  here  without 
danger  of  our  lives  ?  We  have  neither  interfered  with, 
nor  molested  the  blacks  in  any  manner.  It  is  simply 
because  we  are  from  the  Slave  states  that  we  have  been 
subjected  to  this  premeditated  insult." 

"  In  the  motive  you  are  not  mistaken — so  here  are  our 
arms — we  will  be  prepared  for  the  worst.  If  our  lives 
have  to  be  sacrificed,  the  assailants  shall  suffer  for  their 
temerity." 

"  Yes,  shall  they,  David — a  set  of  lawless  wretches,  who 
are  thirsting  for  our  blood — fiends  incarnate,  nothing  but 
lead  and  steel  will  cure  them  of  their  folly.  Two  men 
against  a  multitude — what  fearful  odds  !  But  we  will  not 
be  taken  alive ;  death  is  infinitely  to  be  preferred  to  the 
falling  into  the  hands  of  such  desperate  ruffians." 

At  this  the  tavern-keeper,  under  the  greatest  agitation, 
rushes  into  the  room  and  says : 

u  Gentlemen,  do  tell  me  where  are  you  from  ?" 

"  Can't  you  tell  from  the  Register,"  responded  the 
'Squire. 


150  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

"  That  I  have  noticed,  sir,  but  there  is  great  excitement 
among  the  colored  people ;  they  are  assembling  in  great 
numbers  in  front  of  my  tavern,  breathing  vengeance 
against  you  ;  they  assert  you  are  from  the  South." 

"Though  we  are  from  the  South,  yet  are  we  here  on  no 
unlawful  business/'  answered  the  "Squire. 

"  Do  let  me  tell  you,  gentlemen,  you  are  in  imminent 
danger.  TsTo  less  than  three  hundred  blacks  have  filled 
up  the  street  in  front  of  my  house,  and  others  are  flocking 
in  all  the  time.  If  you  remain  here  my  tavern  will  be 
torn  down  over  your  heads.  You  are  my  guests,  and  as 
such,  I  don't  want  you  injured ;  and  so  far  as  I  have  the 
power,  I  will  see  you  harmless." 

u  Are  there  no  laws  in  this  country  ?"  said  the  'Squire, 
"  no  officers  to  protect  the  innocent  ?  Must  such  mobs 
have  absolute  sway  ?" 

"  None,  none  whatever  to  protect  persons  from  the 
Slave  states,"  rejoined  the  tavern-keeper.  "  For  this  pur 
pose  our  laws  and  our  officers  are  inefficient.  The  ne 
groes  are  omnipotent,  and  carry  all  things  before  them." 

"To  this  condition  have  you  arrived,  sir! "said  the 
'Squire.  "  I  am  sorry  to  hear  it.  If  a  hair  of  our  heads 
be  injured,  I  hope  the  United  States  will  send  an  army 
here  and  blow  the  whole  of  those  villains  to  h — 11.  We 
are  prepared  to  defend  our  lives  to  the  last  extremity ; 
but  we  will  submit  to  you,  what  is  to  be  done  ?  We  do 
not  wish  your  house,  on  our  account,  to  be  torn  down  or 
damaged.  As  you  have  acted  so  much  like  a  gentleman, 
we  will  be  governed  by  your  advice." 

"I  know  of  only  one  chance  to  escape,  gentlemen.  I 
have  a  very  fleet  pony,  and  an  excellent  buggy.  I  will 
have  it  got  ready  in  a  moment ;  place  your  baggage  in  it, 
and  you  can  take  the  road  to  Sandwich — leave  horse 
and  buggy  with  my  friend  Crane — then  cross  to  Detroit 
and  you  are  safe." 

u  Be  it  as  you  say,  we  will  adopt  the  plan,"  replied  the 
'Squire. 

u  I  will  order  horse  and  buggy  got  ready,  gentlemen., 
then  return  to  the  bar-room,  parley  with  the  blacks,  and 
keep  them  out  of  the  house  as  long  as  I  can,  so  that  you 
may  get  considerably  the  start.  They  will  pursue  like 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  151 

wolves,  so  soon  as  they  shall  find  out  you  are  gone:  but 
don't  tear — they  have  nothing  that  can  come  up  with  that 
pony.  Give  him  slightly  the  whip  and  the  reins;  that's 
all  you  have  to  do,  and  I'll  go  security  for  the  balance.5' 

u  Here,  Mr.  Tavern  Keeper,5'  said  the  'Squire,  ;*is  a 
hundred  dollars  ;  it  will  cover  your  risk,  and  be  a  remu 
neration  for  your  kindness.5' 

"  Thank  you,  gentlemen  ;  now  go  it  with  a  rush  !  I 
will  detain  the  mob,  as  long  as  I  can  ;  trust  me  for  that.5' 

Soon  after,  the  5Squire  and  David  passed  out  of  a 
back  door,  along  a  narrow  alley,  to  the  buggy  in  wait 
ing,  unobserved  by  the  crowd.  They  got  in,  and  took 
the  road  to  Sandwich.  Never  did  pony  move  in  such  gal 
lant  style — the  wheels  whirled  so  rapidly,  they  seemed  a 
solid  sheet ;  the  spokes  were  not  visible,  but  appeared 
cemented  into  one  solid  frame. 

In  the  meantime,  the  tavern-keeper  was  essaying  to 
hold  the  mob  in  suspense. 

i;I  say,  Mr.  Simpson,  the  tavern-keeper! 55  hallooed  a" 
lusty  negro  fellow.  "  Where  is  dem  men  ?  we  must  have 
5em  at  every  hazard!  No  man  from  dem  Slave  States 
shall  be  coming  ober  to  dis  country  ;  if  him  does,  we5ll 
have  his  blood — do  you  hear  dat  ?  " 

4>  Why,  Joe  ! 55  says  Mr.  Simpson,  "  these  appear  to  be 
well-behaved  gentlemen;  they  have  demeaned  themselves 
peaceably ;  they  have  troubled  nobody  ;  they  came  off  a 
boat  this  morning — have  put  up  with  me;  they  are  under 
my  roof,  and  I  can't  suffer  them  to  be  molested.5' 

"  Dat  won't  do  for  us,  Mr.  Simpson  ! 55  replied  Joe — 
"  not  at  all — dese  South'ners  has  been  cruel  to  our  race 
dese  menny  years — dey  ties  5em  up  and  whips  5em  with 
out  marcy.  Now  we  jest  wants  to  show  5em  dis  same 
sort  of  play — dat's  all.55 

"  But,  Joe,  you  must  know,  these  are  citizens  of  the 
United  States  —  quietly  disposed.  That  Government 
would  not  suffer  her  citizens  to  be  barbarously  scourged 
~by  you!  That  Republic  is  proud,  martial,  and  tenacious 
of  its  rights.  Would  you  wish  to  involve  us  in  a  war 
with  that  nation  ? 55 

u  I  don't  care,  Mr.  Simpson,  a  d — n  for  the  hull  of 
'em — dey  won't  fight — a  darn  bit  of  it.  Den  we  has  too 


152  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

menny  frien's,  in  de  North,  to  suffer  dat.  Dey  let  dese 
black  peoples  be  hurt;  dat  won't  do  to  tell,  Mr.  Simpson, 
case  we  has  too  menny  frien's  dere,  for  dat.  Dey  don't 
care  how  menny  dem  slave-holders  be  kilt.  Dat  time  we 
lays  in  dem  bushes,  waiting  for  dat  old  man — Gorsuch — 
to  cum  along:  den  here  he  cums,  sure  enough,  not  dink- 
ing  we  was  in  dat  place  hid  ;  den  pop,  pop,  went  de  guns 
all  round — down  dropped  de  old  man,  all  kilt  right  away. 
Dem  niggers  which  kilt  him,  was  'em  hurt  for  it  ?  dat 's 
deding;  so  far  from  dat,  dey  was  called  heroes!  Dey 
lobed  us  de  more  for  dat.  And  dese  men  in  your  house, 
we'll  sarve  worser  dan  dat — nobody  won't  care  a  bit  for 
it.  We  will  have  dem  wretches  !  drag  'em  out  of  dere 
hiding-places  !  Now,  if  you  don't  open  your  doors,  and 
let  us  cum  in,  dis  house  will  come  to  pieces  in  less  dan 
no  time !  " 

"  I  must  declare,  Joe,  you  all  want  to  do  a  mighty 
jvicked  thing.  These  men  are  entire  strangers  in  this 
place :  how  do  you  know  anything  about  them  ?  You 
don't  even  know  whether  they  own  slaves  or  not !  or 
even  if  they  do,  whether  they  are  cruel  or  humane  !  In 
the  absence  of  such  knowledge,  the  most  innocent  may 
suffer." 

"  I  want  to  hear  no  more  sich  stuff,  Mr.  Simpson.  To 
de  work!  Hurrah,  boys!  rush  to  de  work — tear  out  de 
windows — mash  up  dem  doors  to  splinters — and  bring 
dem  men  out  dead  or  alive — dey  are  our  meat !  " 

"  Stop,  Joe  !  I  will  unlock  all  my  doors  ;  you  may 
have  access  to  every  room  in  my  house.  I  have  done 
my  best  to  save  these  men,  and  if  you  will  have  them,  I 
can't  help  it." 

"Oh,  ho!  j^ou  begin  to  hab  some  sense  now,  Mr. 
Simpson.  Rush  in  men — haul  'em  out;  we'll  show  'em 
how  de  war's  begun — dat 's  what  we  will." 

The  house  is  rapidly  searched  up  and  down — no  white 
men  to  be  found. 

The  shout  went  up,  They're  fled  !  they're  fled  !  Hunt 
'em  !  hunt  'em  up  ! 

A  loud  voice  cried  out,  in  the  crowd,  "  I  just  met  two 
white  men  in  a  buggy,  driving  a  pony,  with  amazing 
speed,  toward  Sandwich  !  " 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  153 

"  Dat  'em  !  dat  'em  !  "  says  Joe.  "  Dash  arter  'em 
men,  wid  horses,  mules,  and  what  not.  Be  sure  to  ketch 
'em  and  bring  'em  back.  Oh,  ho  !  guilty  rascals,  afeard 
of  dese  niggers  now  !  " 

The  whole  town  was  in  a  bustle :  the  livery  stables 
were  soon  all  emptied  of  horses.  Now  the  mob,  pell- 
mell,  dashed  up  the  road — the  horses'  feet  rumbling  like 
distant  thunder — and  a  deafening  yell  went  up,  that 
reverberated  along  the  winding  shore.  Like  ravenous 
wolves,  they  dashed  madly  after  their  prey:  the  dust,  in 
curling  columns,  arising  behind.  A  long  train  of,  at 
least,  five  hundred  infuriated  negroes,  in  hot  pursuit  of 
our  good  old  'Squire  and  David — a  great  disparity,  in 
force !  The  demons  were  armed  to  the  teeth,  and 
thirsting  for  blood. 

"  Did  you  not  hear,"  said  the  'Squire,  to  David,  "that 
horrible  yell  ?  Those  fiends  are  on  our  trail,  and  they 
are  coming  with  a  vengeance." 

u  Yes — yes,  uncle,  I  see  the  dust  curling  in  the  air: 
yonder  they  come,  like  furies.  What  a  multitude  !  they 
reach  farther  than  I  can  see.  Come,  pony,  exert  every 
nerve — thy  nimble  little  feet  seem  barely  to  touch  the 
ground.  Oh !  noble  fellow,  how  he  presses  onward,  as 
though  he  were  conscious  of  his  important  charge." 

"Ah  !  David,  did  you  ever  see  such  speed  and  bottom 
in  one  little  horse?  He  bids  defiance  to  all  pursuit.  His 
owner  was  right,  when  he  said  none  could  come  up  with 
him — I  see  that  plainly — we  pass  objects  so  quickly,  that 
it  almost  makes  my  head  dizzy.  Did  you  hear  the  name 
of  this  grand  little  horse  ? " 

"  Yes,  uncle,  the  hostler  called  him  c  Napoleon  le  Grand.' 
You  noticed  how  he  pranced  and  champed  the  bit,  so  im 
patient  was  he  to  be  on  his  way.  His  name  is  very  ap 
propriate." 

"  That  it  is,  David ;  and  I  will  own  him,  if  he  can  be 
bought.  I  will  send  down  a  letter  this  night,  to  the 
owner,  to  price  him  and  the  buggy ;  and  if  money  will 
buy  them,  we  will  take  them  along  with  us  to  Boone. 
There  he  shall  be  fed  up  to  his  eyes — none  shall  hurt  him. 
Napoleon  le  Grand,  with  this  buggy,  shall  be  kept  as  a 
memento  of  our  flight  from  Amherstburg." 


154  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

u  Can  you  hear,  David,  anything  of  those  cut-throats 
who  were  hunting  us  like  hyenas?'' 

"  No,  uncle,  they  are  out  of  hearing  and  out  of  sight. 
We  have  fairly  distanced  them  to  a  certainty." 

"  Yery  well,  David ;  to  the  speed  of  this  noble  little 
horse  are  we  indebted  for  our  salvation.  We  will  leave 
him  and  buggy  here  according  to  promise." 

The  horse  and  buggy  were  left  with  Mr.  Crane,  while 
the  'Squire  and  David  passed  quickly  over  to  Detroit. 
But  they  had  barely  made  their  escape  ere  these  hell 
hounds,  with  dusty  visages,  had  dashed  into  town.  The 
prey,  was  gone.  Suddenly  they  retreated  homeward,  curs 
ing  their  poor  fatigued  horses  for  the  slowness  of  their 
speed. 


CHAPTEK   XX. 

'Squire  Gray  and  David  at  a  Hotel  in  Detroit — Thoughts  and  reflections 
on  the  Incidents  of  the  day — Receives  an  answer — Buys  Pony  and 
Buggy — Resolves  to  make  another  Excursion  into  Canada. 

"  I  CAN  but  think,"  said  the  'Squire  to  David,  "  of  the 
incidents  of  this  day.  How  proud  I  am  once  more  to  see 
that  flag,  so  glorious,  with  its  stars  and  stripes  floating 
upon  the  breeze.  On  American  soil  I  feel  safe." 

"  I  reckon,  uncle,  you  will  be  no  great  admirer  of  the 
hospitality  you  experienced  in  Canada  ?  Your  Quaker- 
ship,  if  assumed  in  time,  might  have  saved  you  from  that 
perilous  adventure." 

u  I  doubt  it,  David.  Phil,  the  negro  I  visited  in  jail, 
must  have  disclosed  our  true  character.  He  knew  me 
well,  and  must  have  told  where  I  lived.  But  what  harm 
ought  that  to  have  done  ?  Must  we  be  mobbed  because 
we  happened  to  reside  in  Kentucky  ?  That  is  a  crime  of 
a  very  deep  die  in  the  estimation  of  these  wretches.  The 
day  of  retribution  may  come,  and  much  sooner  than  they 
anticipate." 

"  Those  diabolical  blacks,  uncle,  were  eager  for  our 
blood.  Tell  me  about  Indians,  if  there  ever  were  worse 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  155 

savages  than  these  negroes,  I  would  not  know  where  to 
find  them.  As  to  government  or  law,  it  is  the  farthest 
from  their  thoughts.  The  strength  of  a  monarchy  is  an 
obsolete  idea.  Where  were  the  police  or  military  that 
they  did  not  disperse  these  abominable  negroes,  who  thus 
disregarded  the  rites  of  hospitality,  and  all  the  usages 
among  civilized  people  ?" 

u  The  reason  is  obvious  to  me,  David.  Great  Britain 
hates  our  nation.  She  is  doing  all  she  can  to  distract  and 
divide  us.  She  does  not,  in  reality,  love  the  negro — she 
gives  him  an  asylum  and  land — by  so  doing,  she  hopes  to 
embroil  the  two  sections  of  the  Union — the  North  and 
South.  There  would  be  more  charity  in  her  setting  aside 
a  portion  of  her  land  for  her  own  starving  poor ;  but  her 
philanthropy  passes  over  their  heads  to  the  slaves  of  the 
South ." 

"  Here,  uncle,  is  a  letter  just  handed  me  from  Amherst- 
burg.  We  will  now  be  advised  whether  Napoleon  le 
Grand  and  buggy  can  be  bought.  I  shall  always  love 
that  darling  little  horse.  Oh  !  he  bore  us  away  from  those 
miscreants  in  such  beautiful  style.  But  read  the  letter : 

u  iH.  Gray,  Esq  : — SIR:  your  note  is  at  hand.     I  re 
joice  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival  at  Detroit — a  fortunate 
escape  from  those  vile  ruffians  who  sought  your  life.     As 
to  your  proposition  to  buy  pony  and  buggy,  I  have  to  say, 
although  it  is  very  painful  for  me  to  give  up  so  valuable 
a   horse,  you   can    have   them  at  five  hundred  dollars. 
Should  the  price  please  you,  pay  the  money  to  my  friend, 
Mr.  Crane,  at  Sandwich,  I  will  instruct  him,  in  that 
event,  to  deliver  to  you  the  property.    Under  no  other  cir 
cumstances  could  I  have  been  induced  to  make  this  trade. 
4t  i  With  my  best  wishes  for  your  welfare, 
"  4  I  remain  truly 
44 'Yours, 

"  c  D.  SIMPSON.'  >: 

4 'Although  the  price  for  the  horse  and  buggy,  David, 
appears  extravagant,  yet  I  will  accept  the  offer,  because 
that  little  pony  bore  us  off  in  such  gallant  style  from  that 
accursed  mob ;  I  shall,  therefore,  feel  a  pride  in  calling 


156  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

him  mine,  and  giving  him,  while  he  lives,  real  Kentucky 
hospitality." 

"  I  guess,  uncle,  it  will  not  be  such  as  we  met  with  in 
Canada — that  was  too  warm  for  our  comfort." 

44  To  have  such  a  set  of  demons  at  our  heels,  David,  is 
not  so  pleasant  as  one  might  imagine.  We  could,  per 
haps,  have  sent  a  dozen  or  more  of  those  dastardly  ras 
cals  to  the  shades  below ;  but  the  preservation  of  our 
lives  is  better  than  a  hopeless  contest  with  such  over 
whelming  numbers ;  and  I  was  not  over-anxious  just 
then  to  sacrifice  our  lives,  and  thus  leave  Abolitionism 
not  fully  unveiled." 

"  I  judge,  uncle,  your  curiosity  is  satisfied,  so  far  as 
Canada  is  concerned.  You  will  not  disturb  her  Majesty's 
dominions  any  more.  As  you  came  out  with  flying 
colors,  you  will  be  contented  hereafter  to  stay  on  4  Uncle 
Sam's'  side  of  the  creek." 

46  Well,  David,  it  seems  I  ought.  We  came  out  flying, 
that  is  true,  but  in  our  precipitate  retreat  we  forgot  to 
hoist  the  colors.  I  rather  think  they  were  laid  low  in  the 
dust.  At  any  rate  it  forms  an  incident  in  our  history. 
I  am  disposed  to  make  one  more  adventure  which,  I  flat 
ter  myself,  will  not  be  so  unfortunate.  We  have  to  go 
across  to  Sandwich  for  the  horse  and  buggy,  and  while 
there,  we  will  ride  some  eight  or  ten  miles  out  into  the 
country,  where  a  railroad  is  building  mostly  by  blacks. 
I  have  learned  my  two  boys,  Jack  and  Joe,  are  there  at 
work,  together  with  others  who  have  eloped  from  our 
county.  I  do  not  suppose  we  ought  to  apprehend  any 
danger  in  that  quarter." 

"Although  I  will  go  with  you,  uncle,  wherever  you 
please,  and  will  always  be  at  your  service  —  yes,  I  will 
stand  by  your  side  4  in  evil  and  good  report ;'  yet  I  can 
declare  I  have  no  faith  in  those  Canadian  black  devils, 
either  in  one  place  or  another." 

64 1  am  sensible  of  your  devotion,  David ;  but  I  shall 
rely  upon  my  good  stars  to  extricate  me  in  every  emer 
gency.  To-morrow  we  will  once  more  trust  ourselves  to 
Napoleon  le  Grand." 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  157 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

'Squire  Gray  and  David  in  Sandwich — Conversation  with  Mr.  Crane — 
They  go  out  into  the  Country — Meets  with  his  Negroes  and  other  Ac 
quaintances —  Conversation  —  Surrounded  by  a  mob  of  Negroes,  and 
narrowly  escapes  with  his  Life. 

THE  'Squire  and  David,  early  the  ensuing  morning, 
crossed  to  Sandwich,  and  having  paid  down  the  price  of 
the  horse  and  buggy,  while  they  were  getting  them  ready 
for  the  trip,  the  'Squire  had  the  following  conversation 
with  Mr.  Crane : 

"  1  have,  Mr.  Crane,  an  anxiety  to  take  a  ride  into  the 
country  to  meet  with  some  colored  people  I  once  knew. 
I  wish  to  ascertain  how  they  are  prospering  in  this 
country." 

fct Prospering,  'Squire!"  rejoined  Mr.  Crane,  "there  ia 
no  prosperity  for  such  lazy  persons  anywhere.  Before 
this  railroad  began,  the  creatures  were  half  starved  and 
nearly  naked.  Work  they  would  not,  and  no  one  wanted 
them  if  they  would." 

u  What!  you  astonish  me,  Mr.  Crane.  Is  this  the  feel 
ing  you  whites  have  for  these  favorites  of  her  Majesty's 
government?  She  holds  out  strong  inducements  for  them 
to  settle  among  you — giving  them  homes  c  without  money 
and  without  price'' —  thus  doing  more  for  them  than  she 
has  for  her  white  subjects." 

"  Yes,  infinitely  more,  'Squire ;  and  yet  they  are  the 
greatest  nuisances  I  ever  saw.  They  come  over  here, 
ignorant,  vicious,  and  very  poor ;  because  we  will  not  put 
ourselves  upon  an  equality  with  them,  they  soon  become 
our  enemies.  Some  of  them  are  savage  beings,  I  can 
assure  you,  and  the  most  contemptible  petty  thieves." 

"Why,  you  paint  their  characters  very  badly,  Mr. 
Crane.  In  a  state  of  slavery  they  are  much  better  than 
that." 

"  There 's  where  they  ought  to  have  staid,  'Squire  ;  for 
that  condition  alone  they  are  fitted.  A  good,  judicious, 
and  merciful  system  of  Slavery  makes  them  useful  and 
productive  members  of  society,  whereas  when  they  are 


158  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

liberated,  they  add  nothing  to  the  general  stock  of  indus 
try  and  wealth." 

"What  can  cause  this  bitter  animosity  between  the 
two  races,  Mr.  Crane?  I  came  here  with  far  different  an 
ticipations.  I  had  supposed  you  were  all  living  here  in 
perfect  harmony — that  the  lion  and  the  lamb  were  repos 
ing  quietly  together." 

"  You  did,  indeed,  'Squire  ?  Of  the  state  of  society 
here  it  shows  you  had  no  correct  information.  We 
abominate  the  negro  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  What 
great  injury  we  are  sustaining  by  such  population  you 
can  hardly  imagine.  They  often  steal  and  murder. 
Should  you  insult  them,  they  are  full  of  private  revenge, 
and  soon  your  house  or  barn  will  be  burned  down.  What 
can  a  man  do,  surrounded  by  such  secret  and  implacable 
foes  ?  On  the  slightest  pretext  or  for  the  smallest  insult, 
some  will  assassinate  you,  and  hence  we  can  never  know 
when  we  are  safe." 

"  If  they  act  in  this  manner,  Mr.  Crane,  they  undoubt 
edly  make  'bad  neighbors.  No  society,  where  there  is  such 
manifest  insecurity  both  to  persons  and  property,  can  enjoy 
happiness.  Really,  I  can  see  no  advantage  in  that  sort  of 
a  life  over  that  of  the  savage,  for  here  you  are  taught  to 
rely  somewhat  upon  the  laws  for  protection — and  if  they 
prove  inadequate,  how  great  and  serious  your  delusion." 

u  In  fact,  'Squire,  I  would  rather  at  once  depend  upon 
my  personal  prowess  to  guard  and  vindicate  my  rights. 
By  considering  myself  the  avenger  of  my  own  wrongs,  I 
would  go  prepared  to  meet  every  contingency.  Whereas 
when  I  repose  confidence  in  the  laws  to  be  my  shield,  I 
go  unarmed,  and  might  be  taken  by  surprise." 

"Hence,  Mr.  Crane,  the  absolute  necessity  for  a  rigor 
ous  and  impartial  administration  of  the  laws.  The  cer 
tainty  of  punishment,  more  than  the  amount,  exercises 
the  most  influence  over  the  xvicked  passions  of  men.  The 
chances  of  escape  are  weighed  closely  by  every  criminal 
before  he  violates  the  laws.  If  he  were  sure  punishment 
would  quickly  follow  upon  the  heels  of  the  offense — that 
there  was  not  a  possibility  of  escape — I  will  venture  to 
assert,  crimes  would  not  be  so  numerous." 

u  True  as  Holy  Writ  'Squire.     If  our  rulers  could  be 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  159 

made  sensible  of  those  plain  matters-of-fact,  what  a  salu 
tary  reformation  would  soon  follow.  Mobism  would  be 
banished  from  our  land,  domestic  tranquillity  would  be 
restored,  and  our  lives  and  our  property  would  not  be  held 
by  so  precarious  a  tenure." 

The  horse  and  buggy  being  in  readiness,  the  'Squire  and 
David  get  in  ;  Napoleon  le  Grand  is  put  under  way,  and 
soon  conveys  them  to  a  company  of  blacks,  working  on 
the  railway.  The  'Squire  leaves  David  in  the  buggy,  to 
hold  the  impetuous  little  pony,  while  he  approaches  alone 
and  chances  to  meet  his  servants  that  he  had  not  seen  for 
many  years.  They  and  other  old  acquaintances  flock 
around  him,  all  anxious  to  hear  from  the  good  old  land 
they  had  left.  Jack,  one  of  his  former  slaves,  and  the 
'Squire  entered  into  the  following  conversation : 

"  Why,  Jack,"  said  the  'Squire,  "  can  this  be  you  ? 
How  glad  I  am  to  meet  with  you  again  this  side  the  grave." 

''Good  Lord,  aint  here  my  old  massa  ?  I  neber 
'spected  to  meet  you  agin.  I  neber  s'posed  you'd  come 
to  dis  strange  land.  Come  up  all  de  Boone  boys,  come 
up;  here  be  old  massa.  Blessy  me,  I  feels  sorter  glad. 
I  neber,  neber  s'posed  I'd  see  you  any  more  on  'arth!" 

"Now,  Jack,  I  have  been  induced  to  come  here  and 
see,  with  my  own  eyes,  how  you  are  all  making  out  in 
this  distant  land.  You  recollect  I  bought  you  and  Joe 
many  years  ago — paid  sixteen  hundred  dollars  in  cash  for 
you,  in  order  to  keep  you  both  from  being  sold  to  a  negro 
trader,  which  your  former  owner  intended  to  do." 

"  Ah  !  my  good  massa,  I'll  not  forgit  dat  blessed  day  ; 
you  comes  like  a  kind  angel,  and  took  us  out  of  de 
clutches  of  dem  bad  men  as  what  trades  in  niggers. 
B'essed  God  so  you  did,  and  dat  makes  me  feel  so  berry 
bad  when  I  sees  your  face.  It  brought  up  all  dem  tings 
a-fresh — oh  !  dey  all  stood  up  afore  me  as  doe  it  was  done 
yes'erday." 

"  I  do  not,  Jack,  come  here  to-day  to  upbraid  you  for 
your  ingratitude.  I  have  learned  to  forgive  all  such  of 
fenses.  I  would  not,  if  I  could,  reclaim  you  and  Joe,  and 
take  you  back  into  slavery.  I  do  not  want  you  any  more 
in  that  capacity.  I  am  learning  to  do  without  slaves  en 
tirely  :  I  am  working  the  farm  by  free-labor  exclusively." 


160  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"Den,  massa,  I  feels  worster  dan  eber.  I  to't  you 
could  do  wid  dem  left  behind — you  had  heap  of  niggers 
dere  to  work  de  land — I  neber  s'posed  t'others  would  run 
off,  and  if  dey  has,  dey  hasn't  got  to  dis  place." 

"  Well,  Jack,  you  and  Joe  thought  yourselves  too  good 
to  wait  any  longer  upon  me.  Although  I  had  saved  you 
from  the  cotton-fields  of  the  South,  yet,  in  my  old  age, 
you  ran  off  to  this  foreign  land,  leaving  me  to  pass  the 
remnant  of  my  days  in  any  way  I  could." 

"  Dat's  true,  Massa  Henry  ;  we  be  two  mean  niggers — 
we  treated  you  mighty  bad,  dat  we  did  ;  but  we  was  'ticed 
away  by  Ab'litioners ;  dey  comes  round  us  and  sez,  you 
have  jest  as  much  rite  to  be  free  as  dem  white  folks.  Dey 
beats  dat  into  our  poor  skulls.  I  know'd  as  how  you'd 
snatched  us  away  from  dem  jaws  of  de  South — dat  I  shall 
always  'member.  It  was  your  money  dat  did  dat  berry 
ting.  If  you  had  staid  at  hum — hadn't  care  for  us  a  bit — 
your  money  wouldn't  have  went,  and  we'd  bin  somewhar 
else — not  here,  dis  b'essed  day.  Yis,  yis,  poor  Jack  and 
Joe  would  've  of  bin  in  dern  big  cotton  swamps  of  de 
souf,  instead  of  dis  here  land,  dat's  sartin." 

"  Now,  Jack,  by  these  kind  of  tricks  I  gradually  lost 
confidence  in  negroes.  I  was  resolved  her  Majesty's  pro 
vinces  should  never  hold  another  slave  of  mine.  You  and 
Joe  slipped  off  and  got  here ;  but  I  said  in  my  heart  you 
should  be  the  first  and  last;  and  I  have  been  true  to'my 
promise.  Let  your  Abolition  friends  make  the  most  of  it. 
I  have  the  value  of  those  of  my  negroes  left  behind  in 
bank — in  the  iron  safe,  which  has  neither  feet  nor  legs, 
and  will  be  apt  to  stay  in  place.  Of  nights  now  I  can 
sleep  without  uneasiness." 

"All  dese  tings  is  bad  —  mighty  bad,  Massa  Henry. 
"We  niggers  case  a  heap  of  trouble  on  dis  'arth.  If  two 
but  runs  away,  den  twenty  is  sent  to  the  South.  Dis  way 
it  works  to  our  mighty  in'ry.  Dese  Ab'litioners  all  de 
time  tinking  dem  doing  de  niggers  'bundance  of  good. 
Oh,  yes !  dey  brags  'bout  dere  good  work — dey  tinks 
dey 're  doing  God  a  rael  sarvice;  but  dey  is  all  de  time 
sowing  de  sorrows  ober  de  land.  Now  here  arn  me  and 
Joe,  dey  gits  us  ober  here — den  oh  !  how  dey  'joices  over 
dat !  Den  you  gits  mad  and  swars  dem  is  all  de  Ab'li- 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  161 

tioners  shall  hab.  Den  here  goes  t'others  —  de  hull 
twenty — down  de  riber  to  de  cotton -fields.  Dat's  de  way 
dese  tings  work — two  here,  twenty  dere," 

u  But,  Jack,  I  suppose  you  rejoice  in  your  escape  from 
the  house  of  bondage.  You  are  very  happy  in  your  pre 
sent  condition  ?" 

"  No,  no,  massa ;  de  nigger  what  hasn't  no  feller-feelin', 
arn't  warthy  of  de  name.  I'm  not  to  tink  of  dem  few 
what's  in  Candy.  Dey's  a  mere  not'in'  to  dem  what  was 
left  behind.  Dere  aint  tirty  tousand  dat  got  out  into  dis 
land — dat's  all.  De  Ab'litioners  crows  ober  dese  as  doe 
dey  had  'fected  eberyting.  Now  tink,  massa,  how  many 
of  'em  am  left  behind." 

"  Three  millions,  I  suppose,  Jack." 

"  Dere  it  is,  massa,  tree  millins  behind ;  dese  hardly 
missed  from  dat  great  big  pile — dat's  sure." 

4k  In  truth,  Jack,  slavery  will  never  be  brought  to  an 
end  by  so  slow  and  tedious  a  process.  We  could  count 
the  sands  on  the  sea  shore  about  as  soon  as  we  could 
annihilate  it  in  this  way.  It  so  happens  they  are  coming 
in  by  birth  much  faster  than  that." 

u  Dere  it  is,  Massa  Henry,  dat  jest  what  I's  bin  sayin'. 
By  'ticing  away  a  few  slaves  neber  gwine  to  'bolish  slabery. 
Dey '11  not  come  it  ober  de  masters  dat  way — dey  be  too 
cute  for  dat,  sure.  Dem  men  knows  what  dey  arter ;  let 
'em  alone  for  dat.  When  you  kitch  'em  asleep,  den  you 
may  call  dis  nigger  a  fool— -dat's  sure." 

u  Since  you  seem  to  be  in  a  fine  vein  for  talking,  Jack, 
give  me  your  thoughts  on  the  Abolitionists,  how  you  like 
them,  and  how  much  they  befriended  you." 

u  Dem  peoples,  Massa  Henry,  I  knows  'em  up  and 
down — dis  way  and  dat,  and  ebery  way  you  can  take  'em. 
Dey  talks  so  good  dat  you  couldn't  hefp  lubing  of  'em. 
Dey  tells  us  about  'aleable  rights,  and  all  dat  sorts  o'  ting. 
Dey  made  us  begin  to  hate  you,  missis,  and  eberybody. 
Dey  kept  tellin'  on  us,  we  're  jest  as  good  as  you,  and 
bime-by,  Joe  and  me  'gins  to  tink  so  too.  Before  dat,  I 
lubed  you,  missis,  and  all ;  eberyting  went  on  well. 
Jest  den  dey  turned  my  poor  head  round.  I  hated 
eberyting  ;  I  want  to  go ;  I  sighed  for  dis  here  land ; 
dey  told  me  how  dey  lubed  de  nigger  out  here;  I  to't 
14 


162  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

it  was  all  jest  de  bery  place  for  us :  so  we  tramped  to  dis 
province." 

"  Did  you  get  any  aid  on  the  way,  Jack  !" 
"  Let  dis  nigger  alone  for  dat,  massa.  Dese  Ab'litioners 
had  dem  karages  all  at  de  riber,  jest  above  de  mouf  ob 
de  leetle  'Ami,  waiting  for  us  to  cum  ober.  We  got  dere 
afore  de  mornin'  star  was  ris.  "When  I  seed  all  dem  fine 
horses  and  tings,  I  hated  ole  Kantuck.  Dere,  sez  I,  de 
darn  nigger  trudges  t'ro  de  mud,  and  de  white  folks  roll 
by  in  dere  fine  karages,  an'  dey  don't  'miserate  de  nigger 
at  all ;  dat  is  de  way  in  dat  ole  'bominable  land. 

"  But  dis  is  de  place  for  de  nigger  arter  all.  Here,  he's 
'onored  like  dem  lords  ob  de  land.  Aha,  tinks  I,  we  be 
big  folks  ober  here  sartin.  Now  sez  1,  when  we  gots  in 
dem  karages  an'  dey  began  to  rumble  'long — massa  will 
wake  up  dis  mornin',  call  Jack — Joe — come  out,  boys, 
make  fire,  feed  de  horses  ;  but  dere  was  no  Jack  and  Joe 
dere — dis  time,  he  '11  be  fooled — dey  aint  dere  dis  blessed 
mornin' — now  ole  hoss,  cotch  us  if  you  can.  Dese  poor 
h'arts  got  mighty  proud.  We  to't  all  de  world  was  in  a 
blaze  for  de  nigger;  dey  rushed  us  on  to  Wilmin'ton — 
dere  dey  hid  us  wid  an  old  Quaker,  and  sez,  stay  here 
quiet,  boys,  till  we  can  find  out  what's  gwine  on.  I 
know'd  you  '11  be  out  hunting  on  us,  like  a  cunnin'  ole 
fox — I  tole  'em  all  so.  Sez  I,  now  watch  dem  corners 
close,  or  we'll  be  headed  yit,  dat 's  sartin.  De  good, 
ole  Quaker  said,  £  Dee  need  not  be  oneasy,  I  '11  tell  dee 
when  its  safe  to  go  on.5 

"  De  ole  'coon  slipped  off  howsomdever — whar  on 
'arth  he  went,  no  one  know'd  ;  den  dere  we  lay  dree  long 
days,  hid  away  like  stolen  goods.  Sez  I,  boys,  dis  looks 
darn  strange — dis  hiding  an'  dodging  about.  What  does 
all  dis  mean  ?  Bime-by  de  ole  hoss  cums  hum,  and  sez, 
lay  still,  boys — dey  are  hunting  on  you  eberywhar — re 
main  quiet  till  de  hunt  be  ober.  Dey'll  send  me  word 
from  the  city  when  it  will  be  safe  for  you  to  start.  Two 
blessed  weeks  was  us  kept  in  dat  place,  den  we  was  sent 
to  'Bana,  den  to  Ob'lin." 

"  Do  tell  me,  Jack,  how  you  liked  Oberlin." 
"  Dat  I  will,  Massa  Henry,  if  dere  's  any  truf  in  dis 
nigger.     We  comes  to  Oblin — all  in  high  snuff,  dat's 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  163 

sartin.  I  tell  you  what,  dat  place  looked  like  somet'in'; 
Dere  was  de  white  gals,  de  black  gals,  de  white  boys,  an' 
de  black  boys  all  kinder  mixed  up  togeder.  Aha!  ses  I, 
to  myself,  dis  is  de  grand  'sideration  arter  all.  Dis  is  de 
way  to  edieate  an'  bring  dem  up  all  as  one,  and  den  de 
white  gal  won't  tink  herself  too  good  for  de  nigger.  I 
kinder  felt  curious  all  ober,  when  I  sees  dem  pooty  white 
gals  at  Ob'lin.  Tinks  I,  arter  all,  dis  is  de  place  for 
Jack.  Sez  I  to  myself,  get  out  ob  de  way  ye  darn  nigger 
gals,  I  hate  you  on  de  face  ob  de  'arth.  I  despise  your 
berry  look,  your  t'ick  lips,  wooly  heads — dem  critters 
can't  please  me  agin,  dat 's  sure. 

"  Well,  bime-by,  I  sees  a  charming  leetle  white  gal,  ah ! 
her  berry  looks  sets  dis  nigger  all  on  fire.  Git  away  all 
ye  darn  darkies,  ye  can't  come  it  wid  dis  Wenus,  dat 's  sar 
tin.  Her  flowin'  black  hair,  all  comin'  down  de  face  in 
sich  nice  kirls — den  dem  black  eyes  of  hern,  dat  sparkled 
like  two  stars  in  de  skies  ;  and  den  her  rosy  white  cheeks. 
Oh  !  don't  tell  me  any  nigger  can  stand  dat  tem'tation." 

"  Now,  Jack,  do  tell  what  success  you  had  ?" 

"  Dat  I'm  gwine  to  tell  you  now.  I  sees  her  walking 
in  dem  streets.  Den  I  walks  up  rite  by  her  side,  and  sez, 
good  mornin',  Miss  Ellen.  She  kinder  looks  to  dis  nigger, 
den  de  way  her  face  turned  red — is  a  korshen — she  hangs 
down  her  head  and  was  lost  in  'fusion.  I  tried  to  walk  like 
my  heels  war  greased,  but  I  made  a  darn  hoppy-te-hop  all 
de  time.  You  knows  one  ob  my  legs  was  shorter  dan  toder, 
maybe  an  inch  or  two  ;  dat  day  it  was  shorter  dan  eber — 
ebery  time  dat  darn  short  leg  comes  down,  it  jerks  dis  big 
face  ob  mine  jest  under  missis'  bonnet.  Den  de  way  she 
slopes  from  dis  nigger,  was  a  korshen.  Den,tinks  I,  it's  all 
a  'lusion — dem  white  gals  arter  all,  aint  for  sich  a  hobblin', 
bobblin'  nigger  as  I  be.  From  dat  day  to  dis,  I  lets  'em 
alone — I  neber  tinks  ob  'em  again." 

"  That  is  very  well,  Jack,  one  adventure  cured  your 
folly.  Do  tell  me  how  you  got  across  the  lake  ?" 

"  Yes,  massa,  dat  'venture  nocked  ebery  bit  ob  de  lub 
out  ob  dis  darn  nigger's  head  for  de  white  gals.  I  sees  it's 
no  go ;  dem  pooty  critters  aint  gwine  to  lub  us,  dat's  sar 
tin.  From  dat  place,  we  was  sent  to  de  mouf  of  Black 
riber ;  dar  a  wessel  was  loadin'  wid  wheat  for  Candy.  We 


164:  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

jines  in  and  helps  to  git  de  wheat  in  dehole;  soon  she  sail 
out  on  de  lake,  but  dere  comes  up  dat  night  one  ob  de  big 
gest  winds  dis  nigger  eber  saw— dat  made  de  ole  vessel 
crack  as  doe  she'll  come  to  pieces.  De  way  dis  nigger  was 
sick,  wasn  't  slow — 'fore  mornin'  cums,  I  puked  and  puked, 
oh,  grashus  !  dis  critter  was  nearly  turned  inside  out,  and 
neber  'spected  to  lib  anoder  day." 

"  But  you  landed  here  in  safety,  Jack.  I  wish  to  know 
how  you  have  made  out  to  live  among  these  people?" 

"  Dat  is  de  worst  part  of  de  story,  Massa  Henry,  arter 
all.  "We  comes  here  among  dis  people — dey  don't  likens 
one  bit,  and  we  don't  like  dem  either.  Dis  is  a  bery  cold 
place  too.  De  way  de  winds  blows  an'  de  snow  falls,  beats 
all  natur'.  Well,  Massa  Henry,  to  tell  you  de  blessed  truf, 
1  Ve  worked  harder,  been  half-starved,  and  nearly  naked 
eber  since  I's  bin  in  dis  poor,  frozen  place.  Dis  is  no  place 
for  de  nigger,  dat's  sartin,  unless  he  can  lib  on  de  wind. 

"  But  yonder  comes  big  Jim,  he  'longs  to  de  British 
army — a  nigger  ossifer — and  den  dere  comes  a  crowd  of 
niggers  rite  arter  him — de  debil's  going  to  be  to  pay  now, 
massa,  I'm  afeerd.  Boys,  stand  firm  round  ole  massa — 
keep  dem  niggers  back.  Dey  shan't  hurt  him,  until  dey 
blow  out  Jack's  light  fuss — dat's  sartin." 

"  What  man  is  that  Jack  ?"  said  Jim  ;  "  where  's  he 
from  ?" 

"  My  ole  Massa  Henry  from  Kantuck,  Jim." 

"  Your  old  massa — how  dare  he  to  set  his  foot  in  her  Ma 
jesty's  dominions.  No  such  pirates  and  robbers  can  live 
in  this  country." 

"  Who  are  you,"  said  the  'Squire,  "  that  assumes  to 
speak  with  such  high  authority?" 

u  I  am  an  officer  belonging  to  the  British  army,  old 
pirate.  I  am  learning  military  tactics,  to  chastize  you  and 
all  others  who  hold  my  race  in  bondage." 

"  We,  in  Kentucky,  Jim,  will  be  glad  to  see  you  on 
such  a  mission.  I  can  assure  you,  we  will  give  you  a  very 
warm  reception." 

"  Ah !  old  pirate,  when  I  come,  I  will  stir  up  the  slaves 
to  rebellion — we  will  ravish  your  women— burn  up  your 
dwellings,  and  lay  your  country  in  waste." 

These  words  filled  the  bosom  of  the  'Squire  with  the  most 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  165 

intense  resentment.  He  suddenly  drew  his  revolver,  and 
said : 

u  Open  the  way,  boys,  and  let  me  shoot  that  black  mon 
ster  in  human  shape ;  he  ought  not  to  be  suffered  to  live 
another  moment." 

At  these  words  Jack  seized  him  by  the  arm,  and  said: 

u  Don't  shoot  massa,  dem  niggers  will  tear  you  to  pieces 
if  you  do — for  God's  marcy,  don/t  do  dat  t'ing." 

u  I  am  willing,"  said  the  'Squire,  "  to  be  massacred,  if 
I  can  first  kill  that  devil  incarnate." 

u  Shoot,  you  old  pirate,"  said  Jim ;  "  I  '11  have  you,  cost 
what  it  may.  I  '11  serve  you,  as  you  have  often  served 
many  a  nigger.  I  '11  let  you  know  how  whipping  feels. 
Rush  up,  men,  and  seize  the  old  culprit ;  he  shall  suffer 
as  he  has  made  others." 

"  Come  on,"  said  the  'Squire,  "  I  will  kill  the  first  man 
that  advances  upon  me.  If  any  of  you  wish  to  die  just 
come  a- head." 

"  Oh,  massa,"  says  Jack,  "  do  let  us  carry  you  back  to 
de  buggy.  Dem  niggers  shan't  hurt  you  ;  dey  got  to  pass 
ober  our  dead  bodies  first,  dat's  sartin." 

"  Well,  Jack,  I  do  not  want  the  lives  of  such  devoted 
friends  to  be  destroyed  on  my  account.  God  bless  you 
all,  boys,  for  this  noble  friendship.  May  you  be  happy 
in  this  life,  and  that  which  is  to  come.  Here  is  a  golden 
eagle  for  each  one  of  you ;  keep  it  in  remembrance 
of  me." 

Jack  and  his  friends  immediately  formed  themselves 
into  a  compact,  hollow  square,  with  the  'Squire  in  the 
center.  In  this  way  he  was  escorted  to  his  buggy,  a  line 
was  opened,  and  he  stepped  quickly  in.  David  cracked 
the  whip,  the  pony  made  a  sudden  spring ;  the  mob  had, 
in  the  meantime,  got  hold  of  the  wheels,  some  grabbed  at 
the  reins,  but  the  sudden  movement  of  the  pony  brought 
them  sprawling  to  the  ground.  They  then  rushed  after 
the  buggy,  tumbling  and  falling  over  each  other  at  an 
awful  rate;  but  they  quickly  gave  up  the  chase,  for  Na 
poleon  le  Grand  went  more  like  a  bird  in  the  air  than 
anything  else. 

"  God  be  praised,"  said  Jack,  "  dat  good  leetle  pony. 
When  I  peeps  under  de  buggy  as  he  dashed  off,  dat  leetle 


106  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

fellow's  feet  played  so  quickly,  darn  me  if  I  didn't  t'ink 
he  hardly  eber  to'ched  the  ground." 


CHAPTEE   XXII. 

Return  to  Detroit — Reflections — Riot  at  Sandwich — Descend  Lake  Erie 
to  mouth  of  Black  river — Thence  to  Elyria — Conversations  with  various 
persons  on  the  route. 

THE  'Squire  and  David  were  borne  rapidly  out  of  dan 
ger.  The  pony  displayed  his  usual  agility  and  speed. 
The  mob,  in  a  few  moments,  was  out  of  hearing  and  out 
of  sight.  David  interrupted  the  silence  by  saying: 

"  Well,  uncle,  I  suppose  this  will  satisfy  you  thoroughly 
with  Her  Majesty's  dominions  ?  Your  curiosity  will  never 
be  excited  again  to  visit  these  provinces." 

"Only,  David,  upon  one  contingency.  Should  the 
United  States  unfortunately  get  into  a  war  with  England, 
old  as  I  am  I  would  be  willing  to  shoulder  my  rifle  to  in 
flict  upon  the  dastardly  wretches  a  just  retribution.  They 
ought  to  be  taught  there  is  something  like  comity  due 
from  one  nation  to  another ;  that  as  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  without  infracting  any  of  her  laws,  if  we  thought 
proper  to  visit  Canada,  we  would  at  least  be  entitled  to 
ordinary  civility.  If  the  authorities  there  cannot,  or  do 
not  care  to  suppress  such  mobs,  we  can  teach  them  how 
to  do  it  effectually.  However,  we  shall  soon  again  be  on 
American  soil;  and  I  shall  think  but  little,  hereafter,  of 
these  mishaps." 

"  We  have,  uncle,  got  to  Sandwich.  What  means  this 
mob?  Here  is  more  trouble  again  ;  I  hope  not  in  reserve 
for  us.  No,  upon  my  word,  the  blacks  and  whites  have 
got  into  a  mighty  affray.  Do  you  not  see  the  negroes  and 
red-coats  dashing  into  each  other  with  a  fury  ?" 

"  Pass  around  the  mob,  David,  and  hurry  to  the  ferry 
boat;  we  will  lose  no  time  in  arriving  at  Detroit.  I 
hope  these  licentious  negroes  will  be  chastised  for  their 
insolence.  This  fight  is  not  between  three  to  five  hundred 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  167 

negroes,  and  two  white  men.  I  cannot  sufficiently  abhor 
such  cowardice.  But  the  red -coats,  in  this  case,  seem  about 
equal  to  the  blacks,  so  let  them  slash  away  :  the  negroes 
may  learn  a  salutary  lesson." 

ult  was  very  dangerous  passing  such  an  infuriated 
crowd,  uncle.  Did  you  not  notice  how  rocks,  brickbats 
and  clubs  flew  thick  in  the  air,  and  then  the  bullets  whizzed 
in  all  directions  ?" 

"  When  I  meditate  upon  these  occurrences,  David,  I, 
am  led  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  this  ill-will  between 
different  races.  I  cannot  fail  to  notice  the  dangerous  and 
alarming  height  to  which  it  has  arisen,  and  it  must  still 
increase  until  a  war  of  extermination  ensues.  It  was  so 
in  St.  Domingo ;  it  will  be  so  everywhere.  However,  on  this 
American  continent,  the  result  must  be  directly  the  oppo 
site.  Here  the  Anglo-Saxon  has  decidedly  the  ascend 
ency.  Who  can  be  so  infatuated  as  to  suppose  the  negro 
is  able  to  subjugate  or  destroy  that  race  ?  Here  the  weight 
and  power  happen  to  be  in  the  opposite  scale,  and  will  so 
continue.  Take  the  United  States,  for  example.  Twenty 
millions  of  whites  to  four  millions  of  Africans.  How  is 
it  possible  for  the  latter  ever  to  overcome  the  former? 
Mark  my  words.  Those  who  are  trying  to  alienate  these 
two  races — make  them  implacable  enemies — are  laying 
the  foundation  for  a  most  destructive  war,  a  war  that  will 
ultimately  eventuate  in  the  extermination  of  the  negroes 
upon  this  continent." 

"  Indeed,  uncle,  I  cannot  see  how  it  can  be  possibly 
otherwise.  Those  who  are  sowing  the  seeds  of  a  civil 
broil,  must  incur  an  awful  responsibility ;  to  that  point 
matters  are  tending,  and  by  whose  agency,  is  the  great 
inquiry?  Who  is  it  that  is  creating  alienation  where 
friendship  and  harmony  ought  to  prevail  ? " 

u  I  charge  it  all  to  Abolitionism,  David.  It  has  stirred 
up  the  bitter  waters  of  strife  between  races.  Though  pro- 
tossing  to  be  the  peculiar  advocate  of  negro-rights,  yet  it 
is  silently  laying  the  train  which  will  ignite,  and  blow 
that  race,  living  in  the  United  States,  into  eternity.  I 
have  neither  the  time  nor  inclination  now  to  dilate  upon 
that  point ;  but  perhaps  I  will,  at  some  future  period,  be 
stow  upon  it  a  very  critical  investigation." 


168  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

The  'Squire  and  David,  soon  after  their  return  to  De 
troit,  took  the  pony  and  buggy  on  board  of  a  steamer 
bound  for  Buffalo.  They  landed  them  at  Sandusky  City, 
and  by  railway  conveyed  them  to  Cincinnati,  where  they 
were  to  be  sent  to  the  'Squire's  residence  in  Boone.  In 
the  meantime,  they  continued  on  the  steamer  to  the  mouth 
of  Black  river,  where  they  landed  and  put  up  at  a  tavern. 
A  room  was  soon  provided  for  their  especial  accommoda 
tion,  into  which  they  are  invited.  The  'Squire  hands  to 
the  tavern-keeper  a  letter  of  introduction  which  he  bore 
from  a  friend  of  his  in  Detroit ;  whereupon  the  following 
conversation  ensued : 

"  I  perceive,  'Squire,"  said  the  landlord,  u  you  are  a 
citizen  of  Kentucky,  and  your  object  in  traveling  is  to 
ascertain  the  secret  operations  of  the  Abolitionists.  You 
have,  it  seems,  been  referred  to  me  as  a  friend.  I  have 
no  hostility  to  slave-holders;  I  feel  that  they  are  greatly 
persecuted  ;  I  have  a  sympathy  for  them,  and  will  cheer 
fully  render  such  services  as  I  can  safely  in  their  behalf." 

"I  am  glad  to  find,  Mr.  Linn,  (the  landlord,)  your 
avowals  are  in  accordance  with  what  I  had  been  previously 
informed.  I  have  found  out,  in  the  course  of  my  travels, 
that  this  was  one  of  the  points  at  which  fugitive  slaves 
were  often  shipped  off  to  Canada ;  that  Oberlin  sent  out 
emissaries  upon  the  borders  of  the  Slave  states,  to  decoy 
off  the  slaves,  who  were  run  to  that  place,  thence  shipped 
from  this  point  and  others." 

"  As  to  that,  I  can  say,  'Squire,  such  is  the  fact.  They 
are  conveyed  here  from  Oberlin  in  companies,  usually 
from  ten  to  fifteen  together.  An  agent  is  generally  here, 
a  few  days  previously,  to  find  out  whether  any  vessel  is 
loading  for  Canada,  and  contract  for  the  number  of  pas 
sengers  they  intend  to  send  over.  They  are  sent  here  a 
short  time  before  her  departure.  What  I  shall  say  to 
you,  however.  I  wish  to  be  in  confidence.  It  would  be 
ruinous  to  me  for  it  to  leak  out  that  I  would  befriend  a 
slave-holder." 

"  That,  Mr.  Linn,  is  a  bad  state  of  society  that  con 
strains  us  to  act  clandestinely  in  such  matters.  If  there 
is  a  tacit  acquiescence  in  the  encroachments  of  Abolition 
ists,  I  do  not  know  how  they  are  to  be  exposed  and  pun- 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  169 

ished.  Many  in  Ohio,  I  find  to  condemn  their  wicked 
machinations ;  but  they  are  afraid  to  avow  their  senti 
ments  openly  and  boldly.  A  rod  of  terror  seems  to  be 
suspended  over  them  to  coerce  such  general  silence." 

'*  I  can  assure  you,  'Squire,  our  lips  are  to  be  kept 
sealed  on  this  subject,  here,  at  the  hazard  of  life  and  pro 
perty.  You  can  have  no  idea  of  the  danger  I  would  run 
by  communicating  any  information  that  would  lead  to  the 
apprehension  of  a  fugitive  slave.  If  a  suspicion  of  that 
kind  were  to  spread  abroad,  I  could  not  live  among  these 
people.  The  Abolitionists  and  free  negroes  would  be  apt 
to  burn  down  this  house,  over  my  head,  or  do  me  some 
personal  injury.  They  have  us  all  under  their  thumbs 
here,  and  we  can't  help  ourselves." 

"A  deplorable  condition,  Mr.  Linn,  when  the  law-abid 
ing  citizen  is  held  in  such  abject  slavery.  I  do  not  know 
how  else  to  term  it.  It  must  be  conceded,  the  public  senti 
ment  has  become  more  potential  than  the  laws.  You 
acknowledge  your  constitutional  duty  under  the  Federal 
Compact,  and  would  carry  out  in  good  faith  the  provi 
sions  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  without  any  evasion  or 
resistance ;  but  unhappily,  a  malign  influence — extraneous 
to  the  laws,  is  brought  to  bear  upon  you,  so  as  to  impair 
your  free-agency  in  executing  such  patriotic  designs.  The 
omnipotence  of  this  sentiment  makes  a  mere  nullity  of  the 
Constitution  and  laws,  and  draws  you  into  the  current 
which  you  feel  powerless  to  resist.  As  the  circling  waves 
of  the  Maelstrom  of  Norway  draw  all  objects  to  its  yawn 
ing  mouth,  so  does  it  act  to  ingulf  the  brightest  hopes  of 
the  nation." 

"  I  confess,  'Squire,  I  have  not  the  resolution  to  stem 
this  current.  It  is  too  impetuous  and  powerful  to  be  re 
sisted  by  mere  individual  effort.  We,  here  in  Ohio,  have 
apparently  to  coincide  with  this  fanatical  spirit,  as  those  do 
who  see  the  poisonous  Samiel  wind  approaching,  bow 
themselves  in  the  sand  until  the  danger  passes." 

"  I  have,  Mr.  Linn,  nothing  more  on  that  subject  to 
say ;  we  will  walk  down  in  the  bar-room  and  while  away 
a  few  hours  there." 

They  had  been  sitting  only  a  short  time  in  the  bar 
room,  before  in  walked  a  negro  fellow  and  called  for  a 
15 


170  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

drink  of  whisky.  The  bottle  was  set  nut,  and  he  poured 
into  the  glass  a  very  heavy  charge.  This  was  soon  swal 
lowed  without  a  wry  face ;  then  the  amusing  part  of  the 
scene  commenced.  He  ran  his  hand  into  this  pocket, 
then  into  that,  but  the  dime  happened  not  to  be  located 
in  either.  The  barkeeper,  in  the  meantime,  began  to 
indicate  some  impatience. 

"Sarnbo,"  the  negro  said,  "I  know'd  I  had  a  dime — 
where  can  it  be  ?" 

He  again  examined  his  pockets  in  a  very  hurried  man 
ner;  but  with  no  better  success. 

The  barkeeper  at  length  said  to  Sambo:  UI  believe 
you  had  no  money,  and  you  came  in  merely  to  sponge 
upon  me." 

"  Yes,  I  had  a  dime,"  replied  Sambo  ;  "  I  know  I  did." 
Feels  again  with  the  utmost  precipitation,  but  the  dime 
was  still  absent. 

Upon  this,  the  barkeeper  said  :  "  Get  out  of  here,  you 
dirty  nigger !  You  had  no  money — a  fact  you  knew  before 
you  called  for  the  drink." 

"  Don't  you  call  me  a  nigger"  retorted  Sambo.  u  I'm 
as  good  and  free  as  you  are.  I  '11  let  you  know  who  you 
are.  talking  to  in  that  insulting  way." 

Sambo  then  advanced  toward  the  counter  in  a  menacing 
manner.  Whereupon  the  barkeeper  seized  a  ponderous 
horsewhip  and  rushed  at  him.  Sambo  then  beat  a  quick 
retreat,  hotly  pursued.  So  soon  as  he  got  under  full  head 
way  out  of  doors,  the  lashes  fell  thick  and  fast  around  his 
legs.  This  race  continued  for  a  hundred  yards  or  more. 
Sambo's  legs  began  to  be  too  hot  for  endurance.  He 
stopped  and  turned  for  a  fight.  The  courage  of  the  assail 
ant  now  evaporated,  and  he  took  the  lead  in  the  race  back 
to  the  house — the  only  difference  was,  the  pursuer  and  pur 
sued  had  changed  places.  They  both  got  back  whence 
they  started. 

Sambo,  claiming  a  little  over  half  the  victory,  began  to 
strut  and  crow  around,  and  talked  very  boisterous  and 
big.  The  barkeeper  having  revived  from  his  fright,  felt 
his  courage  returning,  made  a  second  charge  upon  Sambo, 
whose  legs  played  again  like  drumsticks,  at  the  same  time 
the  lashes  fell  upon  his  posteriors  with  consummate  skill. 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  171 

Such  was  the  power  of  the  lash — acting  as  heat  on^a  ther 
mometer—that  Sambo's  blood  soon  got  up  to  the  fighting 
point  once  more.  lie  whirled  for  battle  ;  but  just  at  that 
moment,  the  barkeeper's  belligerent  propensities  failed — 
he  fled,  hotly  pursued  by  Sambo.  All  agreed  now  that  it 
should  be  a  drawn  battle,  as  each  had  shown  great  invin 
cibility  and  equal  agility  in  retreat. 

"Now,  old  Dad","  said  a  bystander  to  the  'Squire, 
"  what  is  your  judgment  of  this  drinking,  whipping,  and 
running  scrapeV' 

u  If  I  must  give  judgment  in  such  a  singular  contest," 
replied  the  'Squire  ;  "  I  should  say  the  barkeeper  has  ex 
tracted  from  Sambo's  legs  and  posteriors  ample  pay  for 
the  whisky  drank.  Therefore,  my  judgment  is,  that  he 
let  him.  go  without  bail  or  mainprise." 

uGood!  good!"  said  all. 

"Now,  Sambo,  go  back  to  your  vessel,  and  don't  try 
land-lubbers  any  more,"  said  one  in  the  crowd. 

With  this  he  sloped  for  his  floating  castle,  rejoicing  in 
this  cunning  achievement. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

The  'Squire  and  David  at  Elyria — Conversation  with  Shan. 

MORNING  came  —  the 'Squire  and  David  departed  for 
Elyria,  Ohio,  in  a  hack.  They  went  to  a  hotel — soon  after, 
in  came  a  very  bright  mulatto,  dressed  in  the  most  fash 
ionable  style.  He  arrested  the  attention  of  the  'Squire, 
who  at  once  sought  his  acquaintance,  though  under  the 
garb  of  a  Quaker,  which  he  thought  it  politic  to  assume, 
and  thus  the  conversation  began  : 

"  My  name,  friend,  is  Moon — from  Cincinnati.  What 
may  thy  name  be  ?" 

u  Shan,  from  Pittsburgh.  I  have  a  son  educating  at 
Oberlin.  I  am  on  my  way  there  to  visit  him." 

"Yea,  friend   Shan,  I  have  heard  that  College  very 


172  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

highly  eulogized.  It  was  founded,  according  to  my  infor 
mation,  by  that  branch  of  the  Presbyterians  termed  ''Per 
fectionists?  Their  philanthropy  is  reputed  very  com 
prehensive,  embracing  every  variety  of  color." 

u  Yes,  friend  Moon,  it  is  one  of  the  most  liberal  insti 
tutions  in  the  world,  established  on  the  principle'  of  a 
perfect  equality  of  races.  By  the  education  of  the  children 
in  common,  this  prejudice  against  color  is  to  be  removed. 
Associate  them  in  infancy,  permit  them  to  live  together 
at  the  same  college,  and  they  will  readily  assimilate,  and 
this  odious  cry  of  negro  will  be  no  more  heard  in  our  land." 

"  Yerily,  friend  Shan,  we  are  all  the  creatures  of  God, 
made  in  his  own  image.  If  one  happened  to  be  black, 
another  yellow,  a  third  white,  they  are  none  the  less  His 
children  on  that  account:  they  being  still  the  workman 
ship  of  His  hands." 

"Precisely  so,  friend  Moon.  We  are  all  just  as  God 
vouchsafed  to  make  us,  neither  more  nor  less.  He  had 
the  power,  like  the  potter  over  the  clay,  to  fashion  us  ac 
cording  to  His  sovereign  pleasure:  we  were  passive,  in 
His  hands.  We  cannot  change  the  color  of  our  skin,  nor 
the  hair  of  our  head.  Why  should  pride  insinuate  itself 
into  our  hearts,  and  make  us  elevate  ourselves  above,  or 
scorn  any  of  His  creatures  ?  " 

"  Yea,  verily,  friend  Shan,  these  are  salutary  truths, 
and  should  never  be  forgotten.  Many  of  your  kindred 
after  the  flesh,  happening  to  be  in  bondage,  have  caused 
the  whites  to  claim  and  exercise  a  superiority.  To  occupy 
that  relation  in  the  United  States,  is  truly  their  mis 
fortune." 

"  Yes,  friend  Moon,  that  I  know;  and  we  are  making  a 
vigorous  effort  to  release  my  people  from  that  degraded 
and  cruel  condition.  What  a  magnificent  work  are  you 
Abolitionists,  in  Ohio,  performing ;  }TOU  understand  your 
business  and  can  prosecute  it  most  successfully.  I  hap 
pened  to  step  into  the  shop  of  a  colored  friend  in  Cleve 
land,  and  inquired  k  What  was  the  news  ?'  His  reply  was, 
4  We  have  just  sent  beyond  the  clutches  of  Slavery  twelve 
of  our  people,  this  morning,  to  the  land  of  freedom.'  I 
was  not  thinking  about  that  when  I  asked  the  question; 
but  these  glorious  tidings,  as  we  may  well  suppose,  being 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  173 

uppermost  in  his  mind,  would  be  the  first  to  find  utter 
ance." 

"Now,  friend  Shan,  tell  us  how  thou  art  prospering 
and  managing  in  getting  oft' slaves  in  thy  section.  Thou 
art  well  apprized  of  the  dexterity  used  by  us  in  this  laud 
able  work.  God  has  blessed  our  cause,  and  crowned  it 
with  a  success,  the  most  sanguine  never  anticipated.  How 
dost  thou  contrive  matters  in  thy  Abolition  Society  in 
Pittsburgh?1' 

"We  have,  as  you  know,  friend  Moon,  an  Executive 
Committee  composed  of  a  few  of  our  truest  and  best  mem 
bers.  Whenever  a  slave  arrives,  he  is  carried  before  this 
committee,  who  proceed  to  question  him  in  relation  to  his 
age,  name,  and  his  owner,  where  he  lives,  etc.  All  the 
information  thus  elicited,  is  recorded  in  full.  Then  again, 
an  inquity  is  made  as  to  his  relatives  still  in  bond 
age — if  any  left  behind.  If  he  has  any  he  wishes  to  fol 
low  him,  their  names,  place  of  residence,  the  owner,  etc., 
are  likewise  entered  upon  our  books.  It  is  the  duty  of  this 
committee  to  put  their  machinery  in  motion  to  entice  off 
such  as  above  described  ;  and  so  great  is  the  alertness  of 
our  spies  going  under  every  conceivable  disguise,  that 
we  are  but  seldom  defeated  in  our  attempts. 

"Again,  the  fugitive  is  asked  if  he  has  any  money — if 
he  has,  we  make  him  defray  his  own  expenses  ;  if  desti 
tute,  he  is  sent  on  at  the  expense  of  the  Society.  We  like 
wise  register  the  place  to  which  each  one  is  sent,  so  that, 
by  turning  to  our  book,  we  can  tell  in  a  few  moments 
where  they  all  are.  Should  any  relative  follow,  by  this 
means,  we  always  know  where  to  send  him.  I  have  been 
instrumental  in  getting  hundreds  off  to  Canada.  I  know 
precisely  where  they  all  are,  and  I  purpose  to  visit  them 
ere-long.  I  anticipate  a  cordial  and  warm  reception  from 
those  I  have  so  greatly  blessed. 

"  With  your  permission,  I  can  relate  a  few  anecdotes." 

"  Go  on,  friend  Shan,  we  are  highly  entertained  with 
thy  communications.  Thy  anecdotes  will  doubtless  be 
interesting." 

"  In  all  my  travels,  friend  Moon,  I  must  say  I  have  not 
fallen  into  company  so  pleasant  and  agreeable.  Some 
refused  me  the  privilege  of  riding  in  the  stage — others,  the 


174:  .ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

cars.  I  was  shunned  as  a  viper,  and  as  to  sociability, 
until  I  fell  into  'your  company,  I  met  with  none  on  my 
way.  Now  you  seem  to  treat  me  as  a  brother.  I  promised 
you  some  anecdotes — here  they  are : 

UA  Virginian  came  to  Pittsburgh,  hunting  his  slave. 
We,  Abolitionists-,  got  around  him,  professing  the  greatest 
friendship,  and  got  out  of  him  the  promise  of  a  very  large 
reward.  We  kept  him  in  high  hopes  all  the  time,  that 
we  would  soon  find  and  deliver  to  him  his  slave.  Poor, 
honest  soul!  he  never  thought  once  we  were  snakes  in  the 
grass.  While  we  thus,  for  days,  amused  and  tantalized 
him,  at  last,  early  one  morning,  we  put  his  slave  on  the 
stage  bound  for  Erie,  while  he  was  yet  asleep  relying  on  our 
fidelity.  After  we  were  satisfied  the  slave  was  out  of  dan 
ger,  we  kindly  told  his  master  he  had,  by  some  means 
unknown  to  us,  contrived  to  make  his  escape  out  of  town; 
but  prior  to  this,  we  had  used  every  art  to  draw  out  of  his 
purse  every  dime  we  could,  and  we  succeeded  in  fleecing 
him  very  handsomely.  He  went  home  entirely  unsuspi 
cious  of  the  trick  we  had  so  nicely  played  off  upon  him. 

"Another  time,  we  employed  an  honest  old  Quaker  to 
haul  off  a  load  of  slaves  to  the  Lake,  on  what  we  term  our 
4  underground  railroad'— that  is  the  name  we  give  to  our  pri 
vate  conveyance.  Well,  as  luck  would  have  it,  while  he  was 
jogging  along,  having  the  slaves  completely  covered  over 
with  brooms,  as  though  he  was  going  to  market,  the  mas 
ter  overtook  him  on  the  road,  with  his  valuable  cargo, 
and  inquired  if  he  had  seen  any  black  people  passing. 

"  4  Nay,  friend,'  said  the  good  old  man,  4  thee  must  ask 
others  —  I  give  no  heed  to  such  things.'  But  while  the 
owner  was  along,  strange  to  say  his  wagon  got  fast  stuck 
in  a  mud -hole.  He  dared  not  unload,  and  he  was  in  an 
awful  dilemma.  At  last  he  saw  no  other  alternative  but 
to  invite  the  master  to  help  him  to  pry  up  his  wheel, 
which  he  did,  little  supposing  that  same  wagon  was  con 
veying  off  his  live  chattels. 

u  Yet  another  delightful  incident  I  will  mention,  as  it 
reflects  so  greatly  upon  the  way  you  do  up  business  in  the 
Queen  City. 

u  Some  years  ago,  while  Bay  ley  edited  the  c  Philanthro 
pist,'  a  lovely  young  colored  female  from  Kentucky, 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  175 

named  Martha  Washington,  eloped  and  arrived  in  the 
city.  The  Executive  Committee  of  your  Abolition  Soci 
ety  got  Mr.  Bayley  to  keep  her  secreted  in  his  house  for 
several  weeks.  He  finally  sent  her  to  me  at  Pittsburgh. 
Hence  I  forwarded  that  charming  creature  to  Canada.  In 
what  direction  she  went,  or  what  became  of  her,  the 
owner,  though  very  vigilant,  never  could  get  the  first  item 
of  intelligence." 

u  Do  not  these  instances,  friend  Shan,  show  how  easily 
we  can  elude  the  closest  search  of  the  master?  Once  let 
a  slave  place  foot  on  our  soil  and  fall  into  the  hands  of 
one  of  our  Executive  Committees,  then  if  the  owner  can 
either  find  or  catch  him,  he  is  perfectly  welcome.  Com 
pared  with  it,  the  discovery  of  a  needle  in  a  haystack 
would  be  an  easy  task." 

c*  That  it  would,  friend  Moon.  When  a  slave  runs 
away,  very  soon  the  master  or  agent  will  be  found  in  hot 
pursuit.  He  comes  in  among  us,  we  are  kind  and  oblig 
ing,  make  great  promises,  but  are  sure  to  fail  in  the  per 
formance.  The  slave-hunter,  when  he  gets  on  our  side 
of  the  river,  is  like  Samson  shorn  of  strength,  weak  and 
blind.  While  they  are  working  to  his  injury,  we  have 
plenty  of  Delilahs,  who  will  lull  him  upon  their  laps." 

u  Yea,  verily,  friend  Shan,  nothing  could  be  uttered 
more  strictly  true.  Thou  wilt  recollect,  that  when  Samson , 
awoke,  finding  his  strength  had  departed — a  true  emblem 
of  slave-hunters  in  Ohio — he  sternly  accused  the  Philis 
tines  of  having  plowed  with  his  heifer.  So  it  may  be 
with  these  slave-hunters — they  may  rail  out  against  us  for 
our  perfidy,  but  that  will  avail  them  nothing;  we  will  still 
put  out  their  eyes,  and  lead  them  wheresoever  we  please. 

"  To  be  sure  the  laws  are  rather  against  us,  denouncing 
tolerably  severe  penalties  against  us  for  thus  aiding  or  se 
creting,  but  what  care  we  for  that,  there  is  a  higher  law. 
God's  Law,  you  know,  must  be  obeyed  rather  than  man's: 
in  this  way,  we  creep  out  of  a  great  responsibility." 

"  Indeed  we  do,  friend  Moon,  just  in  that  very  way. 
Tell  me  about  laws — they  have  not  the  strength  of  a 
spider's  web  to  restrain  us  in  this  holy  work.  What  is 
the  stake?  what  is  the  boon  ?  Freedom  to  millions  of  my 
race  that  have  for  centuries  groaned  in  bondage;  the  day 


176  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

of  liberation  has  at  last  dawned  upon  the  land.  Congress 
may  pass  Fugitive  Slave  Laws — pile  one  upon  another — 
but  we  shall  heed  them  not ;  catching  precedes  hanging. 
Our  secret  operations  have  no  witnesses,  and  without 
those,  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  States  under  the 
act,  will  have  no  cases  to  try.  Why,  laws  are  mere  no 
things  in  our  onward  march.  From  that  source  we  have 
not  now,  nor  ever  had  any  dread." 

"  Yea,  verily,  friend  Shan,  it  seems  so.  The  work  of 
running  off  slaves  has  not  in  the  least  abated.  All  laws 
prove  inefficient  to  check  this  strong  tide  of  elopement. 
They  come  in  shoals  to  us,  begging  a  passage  on  the  l  un 
derground  railway '  to  the  land  of  freedom.  We  ticket  them 
through,  as  you  have  been  apprized." 

"  Yes,  friend  Moon,  to  your  lasting  honor  be  it  said,  your 
acuteness  in  running  off  slaves  from  the  Queen  City  de 
serves  all  commendation.  Only  once  you  came  near  being 
entrapped.  I  allude  to  the  Piatt  slaves  —  that  case,  you 
have  not  forgotten." 

"  Nay,  friend  Shan,  it  is  still  fresh  in  my  memory;  the 
arrangement  in  that  case  was  wisely  and  judiciously  made. 
Tiie  partial  failure  was  no  fault  of  ours.  These  slaves  were 
owned  by  A.  Piatt,  of  Boone  County,  Kentucky,  living  op 
posite  Lawrenceburg,  la.  Wemadea  clean  sweep  that  time, 
not  leaving  one  negro  on  the  place  to  call  him  master. 

u  Our  emissaries  do  not  mince  their  work.  The  whole 
plan  was  fixed  days  beforehand.  Our  committee  was  ad 
vised  of  this  intended  emigration.  The  night  of  their  de 
parture — the  hour  of  their  arrival  at  the  railroad  depot, 
were  all  fully  understood.  Through  tickets  to  Sandusky 
City  for  the  right  number  of  persons  were  procured  and 
paid.  At  the  hour  expected,  sure  enough,  the  slaves  ar 
rived.  New  clothing  being  in  readiness,  the  old  rags  were 
cast  off — the  women  appeared  in  silks — the  men  in  broad 
cloth — all  dressed  in  the  most  fashionable  manner." 

"That  is  the  right  way,  God  bless  you,  old  friend  Moon, 
what  munificent  liberality.  Now,  go  on,  tell  me  how  they 
came  to  be  betrayed?" 

"  Just  in  this  way,  friend  Shan.  They  were  placed  on 
the  cars  on  the  Express  train.  Our  calculation  was,  they 
would  be  on  their  way  to  Canada  about  the  time  they 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  177 

would  be  missed  at  home.  Before  the  owner  would  have 
time  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  to  pursue,  we 
had  hoped  to  land  them  at  the  Lake,  where  a  steamer  would 
be  in  waiting  to  convey  them  forthwith  to  Canada.  But 
Wycoff  Piatt,  an  attorney  from  Cincinnati,  and  relative  of 
the  owner,  being  on  the  cars,  happened  to  recognize  those 
slaves.  When  the  cars  arrived  at  Urbana,  what  does  he 
do  but  takes  them  off,  and  places  them  in  the  custody  of 
another  Piatt,  the  son-in-law  of  the  owner.  Hence,  the 
owner,  Abraham  Piatt,  was  immediately  telegraphed  of  the 
apprehension  of  his  fugitive  slaves,  and  requested  to  hasten 
there  with  the  requisite  proof  to  identify  and  prove  them." 

"  Wasn't  this  a  tight  place,  friend  Moon.  I  should  have 
thought  this  time  you  wouldn't  have  come  out  with  flying 
colors.  But  let's  hear  how  you  extricated  yourselves 
out  of  this  difficulty?" 

u  Well,  friend  Shan,  we  were  resolved  not  to  be  outdone. 
In  our  elections  we  have  always  made  it  a  rule,  to  put  in 
judges  of  the  right  stamp.  We  never  trust  those  fellows 
that  talk  about  precedents,  law  reports,  and  the  principles 
settled  by  former  adjudications.  That  is  all  stuff — it  never 
suited  our  ideas  at  all.  Therefore,  we  are  sure  to  select 
the  proper  material  to  answer  our  purposes.  The  muni 
cipal  law,  in  the  old  Books,  has  been  defined  to  be  a  rule 
of  civil  conduct  prescribed  by  the  supreme  authority  of 
the  State.  But  that  definition,  we  consider  entirely  too 
antiquated  to  please  Western  philanthropy.  This  age  is 
progressive — in  jurisdiction  as  in  everything  else.  We 
hold  to  unfixedness  in  everything,  except  that  there  is 
one  only  thing  certain  ;  and  that  is,  the  law  cannot  pre 
scribe  for  us.  That  is  the  only  certainty  in  this  uncer 
tain  world." 

u  That  'sit,  friend  Moon — the  only  true  doctrine  that 
ought  to  be  proclaimed.  Talking  about  fixed  rules  to  us,  is 
like  trying  to  stop  a  tornado  with  a  feather.  Ours  are 
made  pliable,  so  as  to  be  bent  and  twisted  to  suit  every 
emergency.  We  couldn't  live  or  prosper,  tied  dcrwn  by 
fixed  rules.  No,  no — they  will  do  to  catch  and  hold  smail 
insects  that  know  no  better ;  but  we  are  rather  too  cun 
ning  to  be  held  by  such  flimsy  cobwebs." 

"  Yea,  verily,  friend  Shan,  I  was  going  to  show  thee 


178  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

how  we  got  out  of  this  scrape — as  harmless  as  Daniel  did 
out  of  the  den  of  lions.  We  were  apprized  the  owner 
would  be  on  quickly  with  his  proof — the  time  was  short, 
and  hence  we  went  to  work  in  earnest.  There  was  lawyer 
Dart,  imbued  with  true  fellow-feeling — to  him,  we  gave 
the  case,  assuring  him,  there  was  not  a  moment  to  lose." 

"  '  Don't  fear,'  replied  he,  1 1  will  have  them  liberated 
in  time — upon  application  to  Judge  Drake,  he  will  grant 
me  a  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus,  and  if  I  can  once  get  them 
before  him,  all  will  ~be  right.  He  don't  quibble  at  straws ; 
he  is  the  man  for  the  times,  ready  to  say  God-speed  to 
the  panting  fugitive.  The  telegraph  and  cars  are  slow, 
compared  to  the  way  he  dispatches  business.' 

u  The  writ  was  issued,  served,  and  in  a  few  hours,  the 
slaves  were  standing  in  the  presence  of  Judge  Drake. 
His  honor  inquired  if  the  claimants  were  in  Court,  and 
ready  for  trial. 

"  A.  Fiatt,  son-in-law  to  the  owner,  informed  the  judge, 
he  was  expecting  the  claimant  with  his  witnesses  in  a  very 
few  hours.  By  telegraph,  he  was  just  informed  the  party 
would  be  here  prepared  for  trial,  on  the  morning  train 
from  the  city,  and  he  prayed  for  a  delay  in  the  trial,  for 
three  hours.  If  his  honor  had  any  doubts  as  to  their  being 
slaves,  he  and  W.  Piatt,  would  be  qualified  to  that  fact. 

"  k  As  I  understand  the  law, 'replied  his  honor,  '  no  one 
can  hold  these  negroes  in  custody  for  a  moment,  unless  it 
be  the  claimant,  or  his  regularly  authorized  agent.  As  I 
am  advised  there  is  no  such  party  present  to  go  into  trial ; 
the  negroes  are  therefore  discharged  from  custody.' 

u  At  these  words,  the  crowd  immediately  bore  them  off 
triumphantly  to  a  carriage  in  waiting,  and  where  they 
went,  no  one  knew.  They  had  barely  got  out  of  sight, 
ere  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  cars,  announced  their  near 
approach  from  the  city.  The  owner  and  witnesses  were 
all  on  the  ground  in  a  few  moments,  but  a  little  too  late — 
the  birds  had  flown." 

u  That,  friend  Moon,  is  too  good — commend  me  to  such 
faithful  lawyers  and  true  judges.  This  mincing  of  matters 
and  splitting  of  hairs,  won't  do  for  these  fast  times.  Only 
think  of  the  consequences  I  If  precedents  were  allowed 
to  be  pleaded,  old  musty  decisions  hunted  up  and  brought 


ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED.  179 

forth,  the  precious  moment  would  have  been  lost — irre 
trievably  lost.  How  plainly  this  shows,  we  need  fast  men 
for  these  hurried  times." 

"  Yea,  verily,  friend  Shan.  Dilatoriness  would  be 
fatal  in  such  cases.  How  subservient  to  our  purpose  have 
we  made  this  great  writ  of  habeas  coiypus.  That  instru 
ment  works  like  a  charm  in  such  emergencies.  It  runs 
in  every  possible  case — it  has  outwitted  Uncle  Sam — it 
has  undermined  the  Fugitive  Slave-law,  and  left  no  legs 
upon  which  it  can  stand.  By  it  we  can  cheat  the  United 
States  Commissioner  out  of  his  prey,  and  make  the  Mar 
shal  answerable  to  our  courts.  When  Crittenden,  while 
Attorney-General,  conceded  this  writ  to  us,  that  act  lost 
its  vitality — it  made  it  a  complete  humbug.  The  chicanery 
of  these  county  attorneys  is  too  great  for  estimation.  Let 
them  scent  a  negro — even  if  he  is  in  legal  custody — they 
will  have  him  released  in  despite  of  the  Jews.  Their  in 
genuity  and  legal  subterfuges  surpass  all  understanding. 
This  great  writ  was  originally  designed  as  a  remedy  against 
false  or  illegal  imprisonment ;  it  was  never  intended  to 
take  cognizance  of  commitments  made  by  due  process  of 
law.  But  these  notions  have  grown  obsolete  also." 

u  And  very  justly,  friend  Moon.  Old  Fogy  ism  don't 
suit  our  latitude.  The  world  is  growing  wiser  every  day. 
A  new  order  of  things  is  about  to  be  inaugurated.  The 
lion  and  the  lamb  are  about  to  lie  down  together  —  the 
white  and  black  races  will,  ere-long,  forget  their  prejudices, 
and  live  in  harmony." 

a  Notwithstanding  your  quaint  notions  about  the  writ 
of  habeas  corpus,  I  still  like  3*011 — there's  something  en 
tertaining  and  instructive  in  your  conversation.  At  times, 
however,  I  hardly  knew  upon  which  side  you  were  argu 
ing — where  to  place  you  I  felt  a  kind  of  bewilderment ; 
yet  I  pray  you  and  your  young  friend  to  accompany  me 
to  Oberlin,  where  you  shall  see  with  your  own  eyes  an 
exemplification  of  that  glorious  era  about  to  burst  upon 
the  world." 

"  Enough  is  said,  friend  Shan  ;  we  will  go  with  thee." 


180  ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED. 

CHAPTER    XXIY. 

Arrival  at  Oberlin  —  Conversation  with  Professor  Wren. 

IN  a  short  space  of  time  the  company  arrived  at  Oberlin. 
The  'Squire,  in  the  name  of  Moon,  JDeing  introduced  by 
Shaw  to  Professor  Wren,  entered  into  a  long  conversation 
as  follows : 

"  I  am  very  much  gratified,  friend  Wren,  in  having  an 
opportunity  to  visit  this  Institution,  which  has  acquired  a 
celebrity  by  its  being  founded  upon  principles  somewhat 
peculiar.  This  is,  perhaps,  the  first  instance  of  an  assimi 
lation  of  races  by  educational  effort;  or  an  obliteration  of 
colors  under  the  influence  of  the  arts  and  sciences." 

"  We  are,  friend  Moon,  who  are  founders  of  this  Col 
lege,  a"  branch  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  termed  Perfec 
tionists.  It  is  our  belief  and  impression,  c  as  the  twig  is 
bent,  the  tree  is  inclined.'  All  the  evils  which  afflict  hu 
manity  are  not  owing  so  much  to  the  depravity  of  our 
natures,  as  to  the  proper  training  of  children.  '  Bring  up 
a  child  in  the  fear  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  and  when 
he  is  old  '  he  will  not  be  apt  to  depart  from  it." 

"I  have  very  little  doubt,  friend  Wren,  education  has 
much  to  do  in  forming  the  character.  Early  impressions 
are  generally  the  most  lasting,  and  cannot  be  easily  eradi 
cated;  especially  those  of  a  religious  tendency.  As  a 
general  rule,  if  children  embrace  any  religion,  it  will  be 
that  of  their  parents." 

"  That  is  an  undeniable  fact,  friend  Moon,  observable 
in  all  the  various  relations  of  life.  In  this  manner  all  the 
different  religions  upon  earth,  even  Paganism  itself,  have 
been  perpetuated.  Religious  prejudice  is  the  most  inve 
terate  ;  observe  how  Judaism,  Mohammedism,  Idolatry, 
nay,  all  the  absurdities  in  belief,  have  withstood  the  zeal 
and  assiduity  of  the  missionaries  of  the  Cross.  Great  and 
tremendous  efforts  to  evangelize  the  world  have  been 
made  for  a  series  of  years,  and  vet  the  work 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  181 

"This  obstinacy  in  the  mind  of  man,  friend  Wren, 
accounts  for  the  slow  progress  the  world  has  made  in  the 
path  of  true  civilization.  'Eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-four 
years  have  rolled  away  since  Christ  personally  appeared 
upon  this  earth ;  during  that  long  period  of  time  Christianity 
has  been  struggling  to  humanize  our  race,  to  soften  the  as 
perity  arid  cruelty  of  our  passions,  and  introduce  love  and 
unity  where  hatred  and  strife  formerly  prevailed.  Now, 
friend,  when  I  survey  the  world,  note  the  mighty  throes 
of  Europe,  the  devastating  war  there  prevailing,  and  then 
think  of  my  own,  my  native  land  —  what  do  I  behold  ? 
Murmurings,  bickerings,  and  bitter  animosities  growing 
up  in  our  midst.  At  such  a  sad  picture,  I  am  ready 
almost  involuntarily  to  exclaim,  'Oh!  Lord,  what  is  man 
that  thou  shouldst  be  mindful  of  him  ?' ' 

"  If  our  faith,  friend  Moon,  could  be  extensively  dis 
seminated,  we  flatter  ourselves  that  a  very  salutary  effect 
would  very  soon  be  felt  in  the  affairs  of  earth.  Instead 
of  discord  and  war,  rapine  and  devastation — love,  har 
mony,  and  unity  would  be  established.  We  believe  sin 
cerely  in  human  perfection.  Our  aim  is  to  carry  it  into 
effect  here.  I  grant  the  scale  is  very  limited,  but  suffi 
cient  to  demonstrate  its  entire  practicability.  I  rejoice 
you  will  have  an  opportunity  to  witness  the  beautiful  and 
harmonious  workings  of  our  system." 

"  I  came  for  that  very  purpose,  friend  Wren.  I  am  on 
a  tour  of  observation.  1  wished  to  notice,  with  my  own 
eyes,  the  conduct  and  feelings  of  white  and  black  children 
educated  together.  Thou  hast  alluded  to  the  prejudice 
of  religion  ;  but  there  is  another  prejudice — the  most  deep 
and  bitter — I  mean  of  race:  the  eradication  of  that  will 
be  the  grandest  achievement.  I  feel  a  deep  solicitude  in 
the  success  of  this  great  experiment.  As  an  honest  and 
conscientious  man,  and  a  sincere  inquirer  after  truth,  I 
will  not  conceal  from  thee  my  fears  and  my  doubts.  As 
thou  knowest,  our  people  are  not  prone  to  flattery  or  dis 
simulation,  if  we  venture  to  speak  at  all,  it  must  be  in 
the  words  '  of  soberness  and  truth.' ': 

u  I  know,  friend  Moon,  how  to  appreciate  the  honesty 
of  your  intentions.  Of  the  Quakers  I  have  a  very  exalted 
opinion.  1  know  them  to  be  very  pious,  sincere,  peace- 


182  ABOLITIONISM   UN  VEILED. 

able,  and  honest  people.  I  will,  therefore,  take  a  great 
deal  of  pleasure  in  showing  you  the  practical  operations 
of  our  College.  This  prejudice  against  color,  I  hope  to  be 
able  to  convince  you  is  very  wrong  and  unjust,  and  that 
human  pride  and  vanity  are  the  source  of  much  turmoil  and 
useless  misery  in  this  life.  In  the  breasts  of  the  students  we 
strenuously  aim  to  inculcate  the  most  deep  humility.  We 
explain  and  elucidate  to  them  our  common  origin  from 
Adam  and  Eve;  that  hence  we  are  all  kindred  after  the 
flesh  and  should  live  in  a  common  brotherhood — adopting 
for  our  motto  equality  and  fraternity" 

"The  theory  is  very  beautiful,  friend  Wren.  What  a 
happy  world  this  could  be  made,  if  discord  —  that  foul 
demon — could  forever  be  banished  from  the  earth;  if 
honesty,  virtue,  and  true  piety  should  spread  and  over 
spread  it,  as  waters  do  the  great  deep. 

44  Thy  French  motto,  I  believe,  was  adopted  by  Louis 
Napoleon  until  he  could  grasp  all  power  in  his  own  hands ; 
since  that  event  it  has  very  little  signification.  The  idea 
of  perfect  equality  is  charming  indeed ;  but  I  must  say  to 
thee,  I  am  slow  of  faith.  I  have  always  been  esteemed 
a  rather  odd  genius.  While  I  was  growing,  and  before  I 
arrived  at  the  years  of  maturity,  I  could  scarcely  be  made 
to  believe  anything  until  I  had  time  to  examine  into  all 
the  whys  and  wherefores.  All  the  good  old  women  in 
the  vicinity,  in  solemn  conclave  decided  skepticism  would 
be  my  ruin.  'Only  think,'  said  they,  'we  told  him,  the 
other  day,  that  there  were  such  things  as  ghosts  and 
witches^  and  he  disputed  it  all.  We  could  have  proved 
it  by  Scripture,  but  we  don't  believe  the  obstinate  heretic 
then  would  have  yielded.'  So  thou  seest  I  am  made  of 
incredulous  materials." 

44  Friend  Moon,  we  are  amused  and  delighted  with  such 
a  singular  commendation.  These  original  thinkers  are 
worth  a  great  deal  to  society.  We  have  started  a  new 
enterprise — an  institution  of  learning  founded  on  princi 
ples  entirely  novel — having  for  its  object  the  Assimilation 
of  Races  and  the  abolition  of  Slavery  in  these  United 
States.  While  sojourning  with  us  we  cordially  invite  your 
unrestrained  criticism  on  what  you  may  see  and  hear. 
You  need  not  fear  giving  offense  —  a  man  of  candor  is 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  183 

rarely  met  with  in  these  our  days.  We  hail,  therefore, 
your  arrival  among  us  at  this  particular  conjuncture  as  a 
most  felicitous  circumstance.  The  history  of  our  College, 
its  endowment,  etc.,  will  be  fully  disclosed  —  its  objects 
and  aims  readily  and  freely  detailed.  So  that  you  may 
return  to  the  Queen  City  with  a  mind  edified  upon  all 
these  points." 

"  1  have  heard  some  queer  stories,  friend  Wren,  respect 
ing  the  endowment,  the  truth  of  which  I  would  be  glad 
to  ascertain.  It  has  been  insinuated  that  mother  Eng 
land  takes  a  deep  interest  in  a  local  question  that  is  em 
broiling  this  Union — no  doubt  out  of  good  motives,  I  hope 
so  at  least — I  allude  to  Abolitionism.  Thou  knowest  our 
Society  are  the  advocates  of  peace — that  we  deprecate  war 
in  every  form  and  shape.  It  is  contrary  to  our  doctrine 
to  resent  injuries — if  one  cheek  is  smitten,  we  turn  the 
other,  in  obedience  to  the  positive  command  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour." 

"  I  am  well  apprized,  friend  Moon,  of  your  quiet  and 
inoffensive  dispositions.  In  regard  to  your  inquiry,  I  am 
the  best  qualified  to  give  the  answer.  1  had  the  honor 
of  visiting  England  to  obtain  pecuniary  aid  in  laying  the 
foundation  of  this  College.  I  was  well  aware  of  the  phi 
lanthropy  manifested  there  for  the  Slaves  of  the  United 
States.  From  a  knowledge  of  this  fact  I  went  over  very  san 
guine  of  success.  I  imagined  the  project  of  founding  an 
Institution  like  this,  would  be  warmly  and  liberally  en 
couraged  by  those  people.  I  considered  the  location 
would  be  a  powerful  recommendation  in  its  favor.  Situ 
ated  near  the  Lake,  we  would  enjoy  unusual  facilities  of 
dispatching  Fugitive  slaves  to  Canada.  By  making  this 
place  the  focus  of  Abolitionism,  we  could  operate  very 
strongly  and  successfully  upon  the  bordering  Slave  states. 
By  the  industry  and  energy  of  our  emissaries  in  the  South, 
with  one  hand  we  could  decoy  off  and  run  to  this  point  a 
multitude  of  slaves,  and  with  the  other  pass  them  over  to 
her  Majesty's  provinces  of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada. 
These  striking  advantages,  I  flattered  myself,  I  could  paint 
in  such  vivid  colors,  as  to  induce  the  English  people  volun 
tarily  to  supply  the  needed  funds. 

"  But  I  regret  to  state,  my  pathetic  appeals  met  with  no 


184:  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

response  from  those  cold  hearts  to  which  they  were  ad 
dressed.  I  received  an  abundance  of  sympathy — which, 
you  know,  is  a  very  cheap  commodity — but  I  wanted  some 
thing  a  little  more  tangible.  I  sank  almost  into  despair.  I 
was  at  a  great  loss  what  to  do.  In  this  extremity  I  ventured 
finally  to  approach  the  Prime  Minister  of  England.  I  had 
strong  intimations  of  the  deep  solicitude  felt  by  that  gov 
ernment  in  the  glorious  cause  of  Abolition  in  our  country. 
However,  I  had  very  strong  misgivings  whether  a  propo 
sition  of  the  kind  would  meet  with  any  favor ;  but  it  was 
the  dernier  resort  to  do  anything  for  my  beloved  College — 
the  success  of  which  I  prized  above  all  things.  Under 
these  feelings  I  sought  an  interview,  and  broached  the 
subject  to  his  lordship,  but  it  met  with  a  stern  and  decided 
repulse. 

uThii8  the  last  ray  of  hope  was  extinguished.  My 
cherished  dreams  were  apparently  blasted.  I  began  to 
make  preparations  to  return  home,  and  was  on  the  point 
of  bidding  adieu  to  my  friends,  when  one  of  them  whis 
pered  in  my  ear  that  thirty  thousand  dollars  had  been 
deposited  in  bank,  subject  to  my  draft — by  whom  he  was 
not  at  liberty  to  state,  nor  was  it  very  material  for  me  to 
know — that  was  a  secret  not  to  be  divulged.  However, 
I  was  not  disposed  to  be  over  inquisitive  —  very  wisely 
judging,  whoever  performed  so  great  a  charity  would  not 
wish  his  name  proclaimed  from  the  house-tops.  I  came 
back  with  the  gift,  not  knowing,  to  this  day,  by  whom  it 
was  contributed.  I  generously  placed  to  the  credit  of  this 
Institution  twenty-three  thousand  dollars — only  reserving 
seven  thousand  dollars  to  my  own  proper  use,  as  a  slight 
remuneration  for  my  services  in  procuring  so  large  a 
donation." 

"  Well,  friend  Wren,  I  think  this  College  owes  thee 
a  large  debt  of  gratitude  for  services  so  distinguished. 
It  would  be  wicked  to  surmise  that  money  came  out  of  the 
secret  service  fund  of  the  British  Government.  Malig 
nity  may,  and  probably  will,  place  that  construction  upon 
the  act,  but  charity  would  forbid  it.  Ignorant  of  the  source 
whence  it  was  derived,  we  have  no  right  to  indulge  in  bad 
suppositions.  It  ought,  therefore,  to  be  taken  for  granted, 
the  whole  transaction  was  perfectly  fair  and  legitimate." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  185 

"  Certainly,  friend  Moon,  in  that  light,  and  that  only, 
it  ought  to  be  viewed.  Beyond  a  doubt,  it  came  into  my 
possession  by  the  free  consent  of  the  owner — immaterial 
who  he  was.  He  chose  not  to  let  his  left  hand  know 
what  the  right  was  doing.  When  we  do  alms,  our  divine 
Saviour  enjoined  it  upon  us  to  do  it  secretly.  In  con 
formity  to  that  command  the  donor,  in  this  particular  case, 
acted.  And  who  has  any  just  ground  to  complain  ?" 

;t  None  whatever,  friend  Wren.  Thou  hadst  the  money, 
the  main  object  of  thy  visit  to  England  ;  the  money  has 
been  faithfully  applied,  after  deducting  a  small  pittance 
for  thy  trouble,  to  the  endowment  of  this  College.  A 
transaction  that  should  be  esteemed  bona  fide  from  begin 
ning  to  end.  That  will  suffice,  so  far  as  this  donation  is 
concerned. 

"Now  I  wish  to  examine  the  practical  operations  of 
this  wondrous  College — its  government,  progress,  and  the 
sweet  accord  of  the  two  distinct  races  under  thy  charge. 
Yea,  friend,  I  desire  to  see  if  we  can  make  an  Eden  of 
this  discordant  world  of  ours." 

"  That  fact,  friend  Moon,  I  will  demonstrate  to  your 
entire  satisfaction  to-morrow.  A  room  has  been  prepared 
for  you  and  David,  to  which  this  servant  will  conduct  you. 
A  happy  night's  rest  to  you  both." 


CHAPTEK   XXY. 

Dialogue  between  Professor  Wren  and  Shan. 

"  BROTHER  WREN,"  said  Shan,  "  I  almost  hate  to  in 
timate  it;  yet  I  can't  refrain  from  expressing  my  suspi 
cions  of  this  old  Quaker,  Moon.  I  fear  some  disguise  is 
practiced.  I  don't  know — I  hope  I  may  be  mistaken." 

" Why,  Brother  Shan,  how  you  astonish  me!  What 
induces  you  to  think  thus  of  our  worthy  old  friend  ?" 

"  Well,  Brother  Wren,  I  must  tell  you  the  truth  ;  I  had 
16 


186  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

a  long  chat  with  him  at  Elyria — toward  the  last  I  did  not 
know  where  to  place  him." 

"  Oh,  Brother  Shan,  that  was  owing  to  your  ignorance 
of  the  true  Quaker  character.  That  Society  never  prac 
tice  dissimulation,  flattery,  or  deceit.  In  the  true  spirit 
of  the  Gospel,  they  reprove  or  admonish.  Their  frank 
ness  I  like  ;  and  to-morrow  I  anticipate  a  very  rich  treat 
in  the  remarks  of  this  straightforward  and  honest  old 
Quaker.  I  will  warrant  you,  he  will  come  directly  to  the 
point,  without  any  circumlocution." 

"  Very  good,  Brother  Wren  ;  but  if  you'll  let  me  judge, 
you  will  get  very  tired  of  that  old  man  before  you  are 
done  with  him.  You'll  wish  you  had  never  seen  him. 
His  wholesome  truths  are  worse  than  two-edged  swords — 
they  cut  in  every  direction.  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  ere  he 
is  done  he  will  utter  sentiments  never  before  heard  within 
these  walls." 

"  Ah !  indeed,  Shan ;  that  is  in  true  Quaker  style.  That 
very  thing  commends  him  to  me.  People  dissemble  in 
this  age  too  much.  You  cannot  get  a  person  to  tell  you 
plainly  and  bluntly  the  views  he  entertains  on  any  given 
subject.  He  tries  to  be  call  things  to  all  men  ;'  such  time 
serving  spirits  I  cordially  despise.  Now,  tell  me,  what 
has  created  your  doubts  of  this  old  honest  Quaker  ?" 

"  I  happened  to  fall  into  his  company  at  Elyria,  Brother 
Wren.  We  soon  formed  an  acquaintance,  and  entered 
into  a  lengthy  conversation.  His  easy,  placid  manners, 
and  entire  sociability,  made  me  feel  happy  in  his  society. 
He  and  I,  on  the  same  subject  of  Abolition,  seemed  to 
coincide  in  opinion,  until  we  came  to  notice  this  powerful 
engine  in  our  favor — the  great  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 
When  he  came  to  comment  on  that,  I  could  not  tell,  for 
the  life  of  rne,  whether  he  was  pleased  with  our  use  of  it 
or  not.  I  hold  that  to  be  our  main  citadel,  and  if  that  is 
to  be  assailed,  it  leaves  us  without  refuge." 

"That  shows,  Brother  Shan,  the  value  of  his  advice 
He  elevates  himself  above  the  petty  excitements  of  tht 
day.  That  writ  had  its  origin  in  times  when  the  King'* 
prerogative  in  England  was  greatly  abused.  Often  the 
wisest  and  best  men  were  thrown  into  the  tower  by  the1 
Crown,  on  bare  suspicion,  or  from  secret  information,  and 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  187 

there  lay  in  confinement  for  years  without  any  trial.  To 
remedy  so  flagrant  an  abuse  of  power,  and  to  protect  the 
people  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  personal  liberty,  this 
great  writ — sometimes  called  the  second  Magna  C/iarta — 
was  instituted.  Its  design,  very  truly,  was  not  to  inter 
fere  with  commitments  made  in  due  process  of  law,  but 
with  illegal  and  unwarrantable  confinements." 

"  These  notions,  Brother  Wren,  are  not  suited  to  the 
go-a-headitiveness  of  this  our  day.  That  old  writ  has 
been  shorn  of  its  antiquated  dress  ;  it  is  enrobed  now  in 
modern  drapery.  This  is  the  age  of  steam  and  telegraph. 
The  cars  go  with  the  velocity  of  birds  in  the  air ;  and  as 
to  the  telegraph,  it  don't  know  distance  at  all.  The 
old  rules  of  law  are  out  of  date,  and  ought  to  be  for 
gotten." 

"  My  object  was  to  show,  Brother  Shan,  that  the  com 
ments  of  our  old  friend  Moon,  in  relation  to  this  writ,  were 
in  conformity  to  the  principles  of  the  common  law.  For 
aught  I  know,  in  his  early  day  he  may  have  imbibed 
those  notions  from  reading  Blackstone's  Commentaries. 
His  views  of  the  writ  from  that  source,  were,  in  all  like 
lihood,  derived.  I  offer  this  only  as  an  apology  for  what 
he  may  have  said ;  but  this  subject  we  will  dismiss,  as  I 
have  something  of  greater  moment,  to  which  I  design  to 
invite  your  attention." 

"  Fray,  Brother  Wren,  what  can  that  be  ?  Has  any 
thing  transpired  among  the  students  of  a  serious  and  un 
pleasant  nature?" 

"  Yes,  Brother  Shan,  one  of  our  young  men — Tom 
Shaw — has  fallen  in  love  with  Susa  Bean,  a  very  charming 
colored  young  lady.  Miss  Susa  is  one  of  the  most  harm 
less,  innocent,  and  virtuous  creatures  I  ever  saw.  Her 
parents  having  intrusted  her  to  our  care  and  protection, 
we  shall  be  very  vigilant  in  preserving  her  purity  from 
the  wiles  of  the  depraved  and  wicked.  His  design  must 
be  evil ;  I  can  place  no  other  construction  on  the  letter 
which  has  fallen  into  our  hands.  He  dropped  it  slily 
in  the  letter-box  at  the  post-office  ;  but  it  did  not  reach  its 
destination — we  were  too  much  on  the  alert  for  that.  For 
your  satisfaction  I  will  read  it : 


188  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

"  '  DEAR  SCSA  : — My  heart  is  tortured  with  love :  thou 
art  the  object.  This  avowal  is  extorted  by  the  extremity 
of  my  affection.  Oh  !  sweet  creature,  can  I  hope  for 
reciprocation  ?  How  and  when  shall  this  development 
be  made  ?  I  was  going  to  suggest,  but  I  tremble  at  the 
thought,  for  you  to  meet  me  in  a  sequestered  grove,  situ 
ate  a  short  distance  west  of  the  College,  at  early  dawn  to 
morrow  morning.  There,  fanned  by  the  soft  zephyrs,  we 
will  give  ourselves  up  to  amorous  delights.  Dear  queen, 
if  you  sanction  this  suggestion,  drop  me  a  line  in  reply. 
u  4  Yours  ever, 

"'ToM  SHAW." 

"  Oh  !  wicked  wretch,  Brother  "Wren,  thus  to  try  to 
ruin  the  bright  hopes  of  so  lovely  a  being.  He  must  have 
presumed  upon  her  color.  If  she  had  been  white,  per 
haps  he  wouldn't  have  made  so  revolting  a  proposition. 
He  merits  the  severest  punishment :  but  how  did  you 
manage  it?" 

"  Here,  brother,  is  our  answer — the  female  hand  nicely 
imitated : 

"  'Dear  Tom: — I  have  just  received  your  loving  epistle, 
and  I  hasten  to  respond.  I  will  meet  you  in  the  grove, 
at  the  hour  you  have  designated.  There,  we  can  hold 
unreserved  converse,  in  relation  to  our  love. 

"  l  Yours,  ever, 

"  l  Susa  Bean.' " 

"  The  plot  is  all  laid ;  several  of  the  professors,  instead 
of  Miss  Susa,  will  meet  Tom  there.  We  will  see  if  a 
little  of  his  amorous  blood  can't  be  extracted.  The  morn 
ing  zephyrs  will  not  be  quite  so  pleasant  as  he  is  fondly 
anticipating.  What  amorous  delights  are,  he  will  learn 
to  his  sorrow.  We  will  convince  him  of  the  folly  of  in 
dulging  in  such  wicked  thoughts.  This  College  shall  be 
celebrated,  wherever  it  is  known,  as  the  pattern  of  virtue 
and  not  of  vice" 

"  Good,  good,  Brother  Wren.  Let  him  suffer  the  pen 
alty  due  to  all  such  miscreants.  He  wishes  to  be  the  mur 
derer  of  character — more  dreadful  than  death  itself.  He 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  189 

deliberately  plans  the  destruction  of  female  virtue  ;  thus 
entailing  upon  his  victim  imperishable  misery  and  dis 
grace.  He  ought  to  atone  for  his  base  presumption — to  be 
made  an  example  of,  to  deter  all  others  from  similar  at 
tempts  in  future." 

"  That  we  will  aim  to  do,  Brother  Shan.  The  discip 
line  of  our  College  shall  be  rigid,  impartial,  and  just.  If 
such  outbreaking  sins  are  to  be  tolerated,  human  perfec 
tion  will  not  be  attained.  They  must  be  nipped  in  the 
bud.  Friend  Moon  shall  be  an  eye-witness  to  all  that 
transpires  to-morrow,  so  that  he  may  take  back  to  the  city 
the  testimony  of  our  impartial  administration  of  our  rules." 

ki  Brother  Wren,  be  more  on  your  guard  with  that  old 
man.  I  pretend  to  some  knowledge  of  physiognomy, 
having  made  it  my  study  some  years  ago.  I  have,  therefore, 
marked  his  deep-sunk,  dark-penetrative  eyes — those  mass 
ive  eyebrows,  that  high  and  nicely-turned  forehead  of  his. 
Now,  I  declare  to  you  candidly,  that  I  have  a  presentiment, 
all  these  gleanings  here — these  conversations,  and  all  our 
secret  acts,  will  come  out  some  day  in  a  book.  I  humbly 
ask — how  would  all  these  things  look  in  print,  dressed  up 
in  the  plain,  unvarnished,  homespun  style  of  your  good 
old  Quaker,  Moon.  If  we  get  daguerreotyped  by  him, 
take  my  word  for  it — the  picture  will  not  be  wanting  in 
any  of  its  parts.  I  implore  you  to  look  to  it." 

"  Alas!  Brother  Shan,  you  are  unnecessarily  alarmed 
about  our  guest,  friend  Moon.  I  am  not  afraid  to  trust 
him  with  all  I  know,  or  ever  expect  to  know,  so  completely 
has  he  insinuated  himself  into  my  confidence ;  and  to 
morrow  shall  be  a  day  long  to  be  remembered  in  the  an 
nals  of  our  College." 

"  Yes,  Brother  Wren,  it  will  be  remembered^  as  long  as 
the  art  of  Printing  endures — it  will  be  stereotyped  to 
coming  ages,  by  this  good  old  Moon — that's  my  predic 
tion." 


190  ABOLITIONISM   UN  VEILED. 

CHAPTER    XXYI. 

Tom  Shaw's  Soliloquy— His  Chastisement  and  Expulsion. 

AFTER  Tom  retired  to  his  room,  he  indulged  in  the  fol 
lowing  soliloquy : 

u  Here,  indeed,  is  a  nice,  sweet  little  letter.  How 
prompt  was  Susa  in  her  reply.  She  comes  right  up  to 
the  point  at  once,  avoiding  all  circumlocution — this  is  the 
reply.  '  I  will  meet  you  in  the  grove.'  Plain,  positive, 
and  direct.  None  of  this  foolish  coyness  of  the  white 
young  ladies — who  are  afraid  of  their  own  shadows.  I 
will  scrutinize  again  the  handwriting— to  be  sure  there  is 
no  deception  in  this  matter.  It  must — yes,  it  must  be 
hers — it  is  a  female  hand,  plain  as  daylight.  There,  I  can 
see  the  nice,  little,  modest  touch — the  diffident,  retiring 
flourish — Oh !  what  a  cramped,  sweet  hand  she  writes. 
Then,  she  does  not  multiply  words — a  few  lines  bear  the 
welcome  tidings  of  her  consent.  In  the  grove — silent  and 
retired,  we  are  to  meet,  as  the  blushing  morn  rises  in  the 
East.  In  those  lovely  bowers  we  will  be  alone — not  for 
evil — Oh,  no,  but  to  plight  our  love.  In  that  beauteous 
spot,  we  will  give  ourselves  up  to  unrestrained — no,  not 
that ;  but  to  virtuous  love. 

"  But  Susa  is  black — Oh !  direful  thought,  and  I  am 
white.  The  prejudice  of  race — how  strong,  how  inveter 
ate  !  How  can  I  reconcile  my  poor  old  mother,  father, 
sisters  and  brothers  to  this  disgraceful  match — for  such 
the  world  will  have  it  ?  Will  it  not  bring  down  the  gray 
hairs  of  those  dear  parents  in  sorrow  to  the  grave  ?  For 
their  feeble  nerves,  the  shock,  I  fear,  would  be  too  power 
ful  and  overwhelming ;  yet  we  are,  in  this  College,  taught 
and  instructed  by  wise  and  pious  men,  that  there  is  no 
difference  in  races — that  it  is  meritorious  to  amalgamate. 
I  was  going  to  make  the  experiment,  but  I  am  agonized 
at  the  very  thought.  Can  1  introduce  Susa  Shaw — sup 
posing  she  is  mine — with  her  black  skin  and  African  fea 
tures,  into  polite,  fashionable,  and  refined  society  !  Will 
she  be  tolerated  ?— that 's  my  perplexity. 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  191 

"Here,  within  these  walls,  a  forced,  social  equality 
may  prevail — the  whites  and  blacks  may  be  constrained 
to  associate — be  classed,  instructed,  and  play  together — 
thus  apparently  making  them  all  one.  May-be  lam  going 
to  play  the  fool !  Why  did  I  not  reflect  upon  all  these 
things  before  ?  Oh!  that  I  could  get  back  that  letter  to 
Susa,  and  it  was  converted  into  ashes.  I  admire  rtiy  race, 
rny  color — why  must  I  consent  to  adulteration  !  It  is  a 
bitter  pill,  and  must  I  swallow  it?  Oberlin — Oberlin, 
would  to  God  I  had  never  come  here  to  witness  this  com 
mingling  of  races — this  illustration  of  the  glorious  scheme 
of  Abolitionism. 

"  I  have,  alas !  gone  too  far  to  retrace  my  steps  with 
honor.  My  letter  is  in  Susa's  hands.  I  must  go  to  the 
spot  appointed — without  giving  her  offense,  I  must  invent 
some  way  to  get  out  of  this  scrape.  It'  ever  hereafter, 
Tom  Shaw  shall  so  far  lose  his  self-respect,  as  to  tall  in 
love  with  a  Darky,  set  him  down  as  crazy." 

Thus  ended  Tom's  soliloquy,  just  before  retiring  to  rest. 
Next  morning  early,  a  few  of  the  professors,  with  friend 
Moon,  repaired  to  the  grove,  to  meet  poor  Tom  Shaw. 
They  had  only  time  to  secrete  themselves  in  the  thicket, 
before  they  heard  footsteps  softly  approaching.  Tom  came 
to  the  designated  spot,  and  with  eyes  dilated,  gazed  in 
tently  around  for  his  beloved  Susa.  Uprising,  the  pro 
fessors  and  company  surrounded  Tom,  whose  knees  began 
to  smite  together,  like  Belshazzar's  of  old. 

"  What  brought  you  here,  so  early  this  morning,  Tom  ?" 
said  professor  Wren.  "It  is  rather  unusual  to  see  you 
out  airing  thus  early." 

"  The  morning,  sir,  was  beautiful — I  happened  to  wake 
early — and  think  of  this  pleasant  grove,  where  I  could 
study  my  lessons  without  molestation." 

"1  suppose  so,  Tom — had  you  no  other  object  in  con 
templation  ?" 

"  I  can't  say,  sir,  I  had." 

"  We  can  say  it  for  you  then,  Tom.  Look  at  this  let 
ter — do  you  know  the  handwriting — that  signature  ?" 

"  It 's  mine,  sir." 

"  Did  you  compose,  and  address  this  letter  to  Susa 
Bean  T 


192  ^    ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"I  did,  sir." 

"  And  dropped  it  in  the  letter-box  at  the  Post-Office  in 
this  place  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

u  Gentlemen,  the  proof  is  positive — strip,  and  bind  him 
to  that  tree." 

u  What  do  you  mean,  Professor  "Wren  ?  Am  I  to  be 
treated  like  the  vilest  slave  or  malefactor  ?  If  I  have  erred, 
it  is  only  in  intention — even  that,  I  don't  admit.  Do  you 
make  no  distinction  between  thoughts  and  actions'*.  And 
you  don't  even  know  I  had  an  evil  intention — upon  your 
part,  that  is  only  an  inference." 

"Inference  indeed,  Tom.  Your  letter  convicts  you  of 
a  plot  to  ruin  the  happiness  and  reputation  of  one  of  the 
brightest  jewels  in  school.  Miss  Susa  being  colored,  but 
aggravates  your  offense." 

"Ah,  sir,  that  is  what  I  apprehended.  You  could  have 
pardoned  and  forgiven  me,  if  the  lady  had  only  been 
white ; — but  in  this  case,  it  seems,  I  have  committed  the 
unpardonable  sin.  Mercy,  therefore,  I  need  not  expect. 
You  are  infinitely  more  jealous  of  the  character  and  vir 
tue  of  the  blacks  than  you  are  of  the  whites !" 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Professor  Wren,  u  how  long  must 
we  submit  to  such  insolence  ?  Prepare  him  for  chastise 
ment;  his  very  language  shows  his  stubborn,  ungovern 
able  nature.  Ere  we  are  done  with  him,  we  will  reduce 
him  to  submission." 

"  How  strangely  you  act !"  said  Tom.  "  Am  I  to  be 
stripped  and  bound  to  this  rugged  tree  ?  for  what  pur 
pose  ?  That  you  may  gratify  your  revengeful  feelings 
by  inflicting  upon  me  a  disgraceful  and  cruel  punish 
ment  ?" 

"  No,  Tom,"  replied  Professor  Wren,  "  we  are  not  in 
fluenced  by  feelings  of  revenge  at  all.  In  the  presence 
of  God,  we  are  acting  for  your  exclusive  and  especial 
benefit.  Human  nature  cannot  attain  to  perfection,  un 
less  it  is  through  much  tribulation  :  it  has  often  to  pass 
through  just  such  ordeals  as  the  one  to  which  you  are 
now  exposed. 

"We  will  fall  down  upon  our  knees  in  prayer  to  God 
to  guide  and  direct  us  by  his  counsel  in  this  trying  einer- 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  193 

gency."  Whereupon  Professor  Johns  offered  up  the  fol 
lowing  fervent  prayer : 

"O  Lord,  our  God,  the  Creator  and  Preserver  of  this 
earth,  we  are  bowed  in  Thy  presence  this  morning.  We 
acknowledge  we  are  poor  worms  of  the  earth — unfit  to 
approach  Thy  holy  throne.  But  we  humbly  implore  Thee, 
with  deep  humiliation,  to  condescend  to  hear  our  petition 
on  the  present  occasion  ;  and  to  guide  and  control  us  by 
Thy  holy  will,  and  forbid  that  in  anything,  we  should  act 
contrary  thereto.  O  Lord,  our  God,  Thou  knowest  the 
secret  thoughts  of  our  hearts,  our  imperfections,  short 
comings,  and  weaknesses.  We  implore  Thee  to  manifest 
Thy  will  to  us  in  the  present  emergency.  Here  is  an 
erring  mortal  who  hath  been  meditating  evil  in  his  heart, 
and  who  hath  been  led  astray  by  the  devices  of  the  wicked 
one.  O  Lord,  vouchsafe  to  reveal  to  us  what  we  shall  do 
unto  him,  that  he  may  be  reclaimed  and  sanctified  unto 
Thee.  In  Thy  hands  are  the  issues  of  life  and  death,  and 
into  Thy  holy  keeping  we  commit  ourselves,  through  our 
Lord,  Jesus  Christ.  Amen." 

After  the  prayer  all  sat  in  solemn  silence,  waiting  the 
response  from  the  court  of  heaven.  At  last  Professor 
Wren  interrupted,  by  saying: 

"  Brother  Johns,  what  sayeth  the  Lord  8" 

*{  The  answer  is,  Brother  Wren,  that  you  scourge  the 
young  man." 

No  sooner  said  than  done ;  Brother  Wren  went  nimbly 
to  work  on  poor  Tom's  naked  back.  He  made  acute  an 
gles  and  parallels  with  extreme  rapidity,  intending  to  lay 
on  the  rod  with  mathematical  precision. 

Brother  Johns,  in  the  meantime,  with  the  most  pious 
feelings,  ejaculated : 

"  Whip  him  prayerfully,  brother ;  O,  let  it  all  be  done 
in  the  most  prayerful  manner.  May  it  be  all  for  Tom's 
sanctification!  O  Lord,  may  he  hereafter  aspire  to  that 
human  perfection,  so  essential  to  the  peace  and  harmony 
of  the  world,  and  which  it  has  been  our  pious  aim  to 
teach  and  inculcate." 

Poor  Tom,  as  might  well  be  supposed,  was  writhing  un 
der  the  severe  administration  of  Brother  Wren,  who  applied 
the  lash  with  consummate  skill,  as  though  he  bad  learned 
17 


194  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

the  art  in  southern  climes.  At  last  poor  Tom's  mouth 
opened,  and  he  upbraided  his  torturers  in  the  following 
terse  and  energetic  language : 

"  Oh,  vile  hypocrites !  your  hearts  are  made  of  gall ! 
Tell  me  not  of  prayerful  whippings !  God  deliver  me 
from  all  such.  Talk  of  my  sanctification  by  such  means  ! 
You  are  more  merciless  than  the  negro-drivers  of  the 
South.  They  don't  punish  for  thoughts  but  for  open  dis 
obedience.  What  is  my  offense ?  What  are  you  doing? 
Oh,  you  vile  wretches !  satiate  your  vengeance,  even  to 
the  taking  of  my  life ;  from  this  day  forward  it  is  not 
worth  preserving.  How  can  I  stand  up  under  this  dis 
grace  ?  it  will  be  a  mark  upon  me  worse  than  Cain's. 
My  associates  will  shun  and  despise  me  ;  like  a  vile  rep 
tile  they  will  pass  around  me. 

"  My  poor  back  will  bear  the  record  of  my  ruin  :  there 
the  lines  are  written  in  blood  and  will  endure.  You  shed 
crocodile  tears  over  the  wretched  slaves  of  the  South  : 
for  them  all  your  sympathies — if  any  you  have — are  ex 
hausted.  Them  you  love  or  pretend  to  love  ;  but  for  me, 
is  this  your  respect  and  affection — a  white  student,  in 
trusted  to  your  care,  by  confiding  parents,  respectable  and 
wealthy  ?  What  kind  of  a  spectacle  do  1  present  ?  Look 
upon  me,  cruel  monsters ;  see  my  back  lacerated  by  your 
unfeeling  stripes — prayerful  ones,  if  you  please.  Oh ! 
what  a  perversion  of  things  sacred  !  And  then  tell  me 
what  is  the  great  offense — those  few  lines  of  love  to  Susa 
Bean,  one  of  your  black  jewels  ?  You  intercepted  the 
letter — it  never  reached  her  at  all.  You  penned  the  an 
swer,  and  laid  the  trap  for  my  inexperienced  feet.  I  fell 
into  the  snare,  and  God  knows  I  am  suffering  the  severest 
penalty,  considering  the  nature  of  the  offense. 

"  Then,  how  does  the  matter  stand  ?  I  don't  admit  my 
aim  was  injury  to  Susa  Bean ;  but  have  it  your  own 
way ;  at  most  it  is  merely  a  contemplated  wrong — an 
offense  by  thought  and  not  by  action.  But  you  have 
decoyed  me  to  this  fatal  spot.  Away  with  such  cruel 
treachery.  Tell  me  no  more  about  human  perfection — 
the  equality  of  races — the  elysium  you  intended  to  make 
Oberlin : — if  it's  not  a  hell  on  earth,  I  am  mistaken. 
Abolitionism,  from  this  day  forward,  I  shall  cordially 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  195 

abhor.  You  have  contrived  to  bring  the  two  races  here 
together,  and  that  is  the  cause  of  my  suffering.  The 
whites  are  esteemed  by  you  as  inferior  ;  your  honors  and 
affections  cluster  around  the  blacks.  I  shall  retire  from 
this  college,  cured  of  all  affection  for  the  negro — both  now 
and  forever." 

Tom  was  then  released,  left  behind  to  adjust  his  cloth 
ing,  and  then  repair  to  the  College  for  his  trunk,  with  the 
positive  injunction  to  depart  forthwith  from  Oberlin, 
where  his  face  was  never  more  to  be  seen. 

The  company  returned  to  College — old  friend  Moon  walk 
ing  in  the  rear — deeply  musing  on  the  tragical  scene  of 
the  morning.  A  tear  often  stole  down  his  cheek,  and  he 
uttered  audibly  to  himself,  at  the  same  time  shaking  his 
head,  shame — shame — shame!  and  from  the  fullness  of 
his  heart,  utterance  will  be  given  in  succeeding  chapters. 


CHAPTEK   XXYII. 

Conversation  between  Professor  Wren  and  Moon. 

"  FRIEND  MOON,"  said  Professor  "Wren,  "  you  have  wit 
nessed  this  morning  how  impartial  we  are  in  our  punish 
ments.  Having  the  two  races — white  and  black — to 
manage  and  control,  our  rules  have  to  be  rigidly  enforced. 
We  hold  to  be  our  most  paramount  duty — the  preserva 
tion  of  good  morals  among  the  students.  Now,  do  you 
not  think  the  chastisement  inflicted  on  Tom  Shaw  will  be 
long  remembered,  and  have  a  most  salutary  effect  ?" 

"Remembered!  friend  Wren,"  replied  Moon;  "it  can 
not  be  forgotten — it  is  imprinted  in  the  tablets  of  my 
heart  in  living  characters,  there  to  endure  till  memory 
fails.  I  have  been  a  spectator  of  a  scene  that  has  com 
pletely  unnerved  me — my  feelings  have  been  too  much 
excited;  I  am  rather  too  sympathetic  to  look  oil  such 
cruelty  with  composure." 


196  ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED. 

"  The  mark  of  a  great  and  good  man,  friend  Moon.  I 
could  pray  over  and  weep  over  that  unfortunate  youth ; 
while  at  the  same  time,  1  felt  myself  under  the  disagree 
able  necessity  of  inflicting  upon  him  the  punishment  I 
did.  By  prayer,  we  appealed  to  God  to  direct  us  upon 
that  trying  occasion :  we  wished  to  act  in  obedience  to 
His  divine  will,  as  it  was  our  Christian  duty.  What 
think  you  of  that  plan  ?" 

UI  would,  friend  Wren,  rather  be  excused  from  express 
ing  my  opinions  on  points  of  so  much  delicacy.  If  we 
are  constrained  to  speak  at  all,  thou  art  not  ignorant  of 
our  rule  to  utter,  on  all  occasions,  the  genuine  sentiments 
of  our  minds ;  but  I  prefer  to  be  indulged  in  silence." 

"Come,  friend  Moon,  we  want  your  criticisms  without 
reserve,  in  relation  to  our  conduct,  and  the  regulations  of 
this  College." 

"  I  am  averse,  friend  Wren,  to  intrude  my  humble 
opinions  upon  such  pious  and  literary  men.  My  object 
in  life  has  been  to  do  good ;  if  I  cannot  do  that,  I  pre 
fer  to  do  nothing.  If  I  could  think  my  counsel  would  be 
of  any  avail,  I  would  freely  give  it;  but  I  presume  it 
would  not  be  heeded.  This  old  world  of  ours  will  move 
on  in  its  old  beaten  track,  in  despite  of  what  either  of  us 
can  say  or  do.  The  settled  notions  and  habits  of  man 
kind  are  not  to  be  changed  by  a  straw.  The  affairs  of 
the  world,  I  fear,  are  not  susceptible  of  any  great  ameli 
oration." 

"  Then,  friend  Moon,  you  are  not  a  man  of  progress  ?" 

"In  some  things  I  am,  friend  Wren;  in  others  I  am 
not.  One  half  of  me  is  Old  Fogy ;  the  other,  Young 
America" 

"A  sort  of  a  hermaphrodite,  friend  Moon  ;  a  milk  and 
water  mixture.  Come,  explain  to  us  your  meaning :  we 
will  be  glad  to  hear  it." 

"  Here  it  is,  friend  Wren :  in  respect  to  government  and 
laws,  I  stand  where  the  old  jurists  have  stood  for  ages.  I 
have  not  advanced  a  peg.  Thou  mayst,  in  this  respect, 
charge  me  with  old  fogyism.  I  claim  and  demand  for 
the  laws  the  same  obedience  and  respect  that  have  been 
claimed  for  them  for  thousands  of  years.  I  do  not  mean 
for  a  portion  of  the  laws,  but  for  the  entire  code.  Thou 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  197 

wilt  see  I  pretend  to  no  affinity  with  the  higher  law  party 
of  the  day — I  have  not  progressed  to  that  point. 

"  Then,  again,  in  all  our  annexations — in  the  enlarge 
ment  of  our  area — I  am  with  Young  America.  And  I 
go  for  another  modern  doctrine,  that  the  sons  of  the  soil 
shall  be  its  rulers. 

44  Again,  I  can  tell  thee,  the  world  is  progressing  in  a 
direction  I  do  not  admire — it  is  in  the  path  of  vice." 

41  Tell  us,  friend  Moon,  how  this  state  of  society  has 
been  produced." 

"That  is  easily  told,  friend  Wren.  There  are  people 
who  are  striving  to  elevate  themselves  above  the  govern 
ment  and  laws  of  their  country — who  are  professing  to 
obey  a  higher  law — a  thing  undefined^  undefinable — in 
stead  of  submitting  to  the  rules  established  by  the  supreme 
authority  of  the  State.  This  leads  to  anarchy — and  from 
anarchy  to  despotism  there  is  but  a  span." 

Shan  in  the  corner  to  himself:  "  Now,  Brother  Wren, 
you'll  find  out  that  good  old  Quaker.  If  he  don't  give  it 
to  you.  hip  and  thigh,  I  am  no  judge.  You  have  been 
trying  to  stir  up  the  volcano ;  look  out  for  the  burning 
lava." 

"  Friend  Moon,"  said  Wren,  "  do  you  not  acknowledge 
the  superior  obligations  of  God's  laws  over  man's  ?  If 
they  conflict,  which  must  I  obey  ?" 

u  That  ?y,  friend  Wren,  is  needless;  there  can  be  no 
conflict  in  the  laws.  In  my  vocabulary,  there  is  no  such 
thing  as  two  sets  of  laws.  They  all  emanate  either 
directly  or  indirectly  from  the  great  Author  of  our 
existence." 

Shan  to  himself:  "  That's  something  new  under  the 
sun.  Let's  see  how  he  will  make  out  that  position." 

He  leans  forward,  with  both  ears  wide  open,  to  catch 
every  word  of  the  argument  now  in  progress. 

"  I  would  like,  friend  Moon,"  said  Wren,  u  to  hear  by 
what  process  of  reasoning  you  can  sustain  a  position  so 
novel,  and  so  much  at  variance  with  the  religious  senti 
ments  of  the  world.  We  had  supposed  God's  laws  and 
'man's  laws  were,  and  might  be,  variant" 

"  That  very  supposition  is  the  cause  of  infinite  mischief 
to  society.  Let  me  ask  thee  a  few  questions.  Is  not  this 


198  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

earth,  and  all  that  is  attached  to  it,  the  workmanship  of 
God?  In  His  own  image,  divine  writ  informs  us,  He 
created  man.  He  is  our  Creator — He  made  and  fashioned 
us  according  to  the  pleasure  of  His  divine  mind.  We 
were  made  the  rulers  over  this  earth  ;  we  were  to  exercise 
dominion  over  it  and  all  the  animals.  I  cannot  better 
express  my  ideas  of  creation  than  in  this  manner:  God, 
in  the  divine  council,  resolved  to  make  man.  What  kind 
of  a  being  he  should  be,  was  all  fixed  in  the  economy  of 
heaven.  He  was  to  be  endowed  with  reason — sociable 
in  disposition — to  be  enabled  by  the  institution  of  two 
sexes,  male  and  female,  l  to  multiply  and  replenish  the 
earth.5  In  divine  contemplation,  this  great  masterpiece 
of  creation  was  thus  planned  and  arranged. 

"  The  next  inquiry  was,  how  to  supply  him  with  a 
place  of  abode,  and  whatever  was  requisite  to  supply  his 
wants.  This  earth,  therefore,  and  all  we  find  upon  it, 
was  created  for  his  use  and  enjoyment.  The  air,  the 
earth  and  water,  were  to  teem  with  living  creatures  that 
would  supply  him  with  meat.  There  was  an  abundant 
and  inexhaustible  supply  of  provisions.  For  his  bread 
the  earth  was  impregnated  with  seeds,  that  sprouted  and 
grew.  By  the  sweat  of  the  brow,  the  earth  would  bring 
forth  abundantly  all  the  fruits  and  grains  essential  to  his 
health  and  existence.  What  more  was  lacking  ?  He 
needed  raiment.  Behold  the  wool,  cotton,  hemp,  flax, 
and  silk,  placed  within  his  reach.  By  his  manufacturing 
skill  and  industry,  all  these  can  be  converted  into  fabrics 
suitable  for  his  clothing. 

u  Dost  thou  not  see  what  ample  provision  has  been 
made  by  God  for  his  children  upon  earth  ?  I  think  I  hear 
Him  saying  to  man,  All  this  earth,  and  every  living  crea 
ture  upon  it,  are  yours  ;  arise,  slay  and  eat.  Make  your 
selves  comfortable  and  happy.  What  beneficence  in 
Him  who  made  us  out  of  the  dust  of  the  earth !  We  can 
not  sufficiently  adore  Him  for  so  great  and  unmerited 
blessings." 

"  All  that,  friend  Moon,  sounds  well  enough  ;  but  I  am 
waiting  to  hear  how  you  are  going  to  make  all  laws  of 
equal  force  and  dignity;  that  was  your  position,  now  let 
us  see  how  you  will  sustain  it." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  199 

"  To  that  point  I  am  hastening,  friend  Wren.  I  have 
stated,  man  is  a  sociable,  rational  being,  so  formed  by 
his  Creator.  Are  we  not  prone  to  form  communities  ? 
and  why  ?  Because  our  natures  are  such,  that  we  cannot 
endure  a  solitary  life.  This  has  been  ordained  of  God. 
Alone,  we  are  miserable;  in  society,  we  are  happy." 

u  Very  well,  friend  Moon,  what  does  that  argue,  as  to 
laws  ?" 

"  Now,  to  that  point,  friend  Wren.  Man  is  so  consti 
tuted,  that  he  must  live  in  communities.  Families  are 
the  first  elements  of  society — the  small  sprigs  that  help 
to  constitute  the  great  body  politic.  A  nation  is  composed 
of  an  association  of  families.  It  may  be  large  or  small, 
according  to  circumstances.  Hence,  we  find  the  human 
family  upon  this  earth  divided  off  into  numerous  distinct 
nations. 

u  The  question  recurs,  how  have  these  nations  been  con 
stituted  ?  By  forming  what  is  termed,  Government.  A 
nation  is  bound  to  have  a  head — a  common  will.  Other 
wise,  it  would  have  no  power  to  act.  It  would  be  an  im 
movable  machine.  After  the  institution  of  Government, 
the  enactment  of  Laws  will  necessarily  follow,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  defining  the  civil  rights  and  relations,  which  ap 
pertain  to  individuals  as  members  of  society ;  or,  in  other 
words,  commanding  what  is  right  and  forbidding  what  is 
wrong, 

u  Now,  what  is  the  conclusion  ?  That  God  formed  us 
for  Society — that  government  and  laws  from  that  very 
fact,  must  necessarily  result.  Hence,  I  contend  the  whole 
is  in  conformity  to  Divine  arrangement — society,  govern 
ment,  and  laws — the  one  as  much  as  the  other ;  it  is  in 
accordance  with  His  will,  that  these  things  should  prevail 
upon  earth. 

u  But  how,  friend  Moon,  does  such  argument  prove 
laws,  passed  by  a  legislature,  are  of  equal  force  with  those 
that  are  divine?" 

"  Just  in  this  way,  friend  Wren.  God  made  us,  such 
beings  as  we  are,  and  willed  our  happiness.  Animals 
have  instinct  only;  man  is  indued  with  reason,  which 
gives  him  pre-eminence.  From  this  faculty,  contrivance 
results — by  it  we  are  enabled  to  adopt  means  to  arrive  at 


200  ABOLITIONISM   TNVEILED. 

a  particular  end.  God  foresaw  that  reason  would  qualify 
us  to  discover  the  proper  measures  to  adopt,  to  attain  hap 
piness — the  desire  of  which,  is  implanted  in  every  bosom. 
He  said  in  his  Divine  Wisdom,  I  will  suppose — '  I  will 
not  openly  promulgate  a  code  of  laws  for  man — because 
it  is  unnecessary — having  made  him  rational,  he  will  dis 
cern  the  proper  path  that  leads  to  happiness ;  he  is  en 
dowed  with  a  faculty  that  will  guide  and  conduct  him 
aright. 

"  '  I  have  implanted  in  his  breast  the  love  of  his  species, 
that  law  I  have  made  so  strong,  he  can  never  run  counter 
to  it.  Government  and  laws  he  will  invent  and  establish. 
Thus,  his  civil  relations  will  be  regulated  in  such  a  way 
as  to  make  him  happy.  I  am  willing,  and  have  confided 
to  him  this  high  prerogative.  The  great  laws  of  nature, 
which  I  have  ordained,  his  reason  will  enable  him  to  dis 
cover  and  obey.  I  have  established  general  principles, 
by  which  all  inanimate  matter  is  controlled  and  regulated. 
In  respect  to  those  things,  I  have  left  nothing  to  chance  or 
contingency.  Then  in  regard  to  my  creature  man,  I 
know  at  a  glance,  what  he  will  do.  I  understand  the 
secret  springs  of  his  action.'  If  God  had  condescended 
to  communicate  with  us  at  all,  it  might  have  been  in  the 
language  I  have  used." 

u  Grant  it  all,  friend  Moon,  and  yet,  how  does  it  prove 
human  laws  are  equal  to  divine  ?" 

"  Were  we  made  in  his  image  or  not  ?  However  that 
may  be,  we  are  sociable  in  our  dispositions — made  to  live 
in  families  and  communities — thus  to  unite  as  our  natures 
and  propensities  prompt  us.  Then  the  terms  upon  which 
we  unite,  must  be  prescribed ;  this  agreement  is  called 
the  government.  The  power  thus  created,  immediately 
goes  to  work  in  making  rules  to  define  our  duties — our 
rights,  relations,  as  members  of  civil  society.  For  what 
purpose  ?  To  promote  harmony  in  the  body  politic ; 
and  that  can  only  be  done  by  affording  protection  to  per 
sons  and  property.  By  no  other  mode  can  domestic  tran 
quillity  be  promoted.  By  these  means  the  will  of  God, 
in  creating  us  the  owners  of  this  earth,  is  clearly  fulfilled. 
Thou  mayst  contend — these  laws  made  by  man  are  still 
not  binding,  simply  because  God  did  not  enact  them  Him- 


ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED.  201 

self.  This  power  He  did  not  choose  to  exercise;  but 
thought  proper  to  delegate  it  to  his  creature.  The  dele 
gation  of  the  power  to  man,  who  acts  as  his  agent,  shows 
human  laws  to  be  in  coincidence  with  His  will.  They 
are  thus  sanctioned  and  ratified  as  clearly  within  the 
scope  of  man's  authority,  and  as  essential  to  that  happi 
ness  which  he  intended  for  him  to  enjoy." 

"  That  is  a  novel  argument,  friend  Moon — I  cannot  see 
its  relevancy  to  the  point  in  issue." 

"But  let  me  ask  thee,  friend  Wren,  does  He  will  our 
happiness  ?" 

"  J3eyond  doubt,  friend  Moon." 

"  That  being  granted,  I  ask  thee  if  we  can  live  in  so 
ciety  without  the  institution  of  government  and  laws  ?" 

"  I  am  not  prepared  to  say,  friend  Moon,  that  we  can 
at  present." 

u  Then  it  has  been  ordained  of  God,  friend  Wren,  that 
government  and  laws  shall  exist.  He  has  so  organized 
our  natures,  that  without  them,  we  cannot  be  happy. 
Seeing,  therefore,  that  laws  are  indispensable  to  our  secur 
ity,  peace,  and  enjoyment,  another  question  of  the  most 
vital  importance  arises — ought  they  not  to  be  strictly 
obeyed  and  enforced  f  Who  shall  dare  to  trample  them 
under  his  feet,  and  hold  them  unworthy  of  his  observance  ? 
By  so  doing,  a  most  fatal  example  is  set.  Even  here,  in 
thy  small  community,  hast  thou  not  rules  laid  down,  by 
which  the  students  are  to  be  governed?  Order  is  heaven's 
first  law.  All  the  works  of  creation  move  in  order.  This 
earth  revolves  in  its  orbit  in  obedience  to  laws  impressed 
upon  it  at  the  time  of  creation.  For  thousands  of  years, 
in  its  diurnal  and  annual  revolutions,  there  has  not  been 
the  slightest  variation.  Cast  your  eyes  over  the  illimit 
able  universe — observe  the  sun,  stars,  planets,  and  comets, 
rolling  in  the  immensity  of  space.  Is  there  any  disorder, 
or  collision  ?  None  whatever.  All  indicate  perfect  har 
mony,  displaying  the  consummate  wisdom  of  the  Divine 
Architect.  But  when  we  come  down  to  man,  the  pro* 
prietor  of  this  earth — there  discord  commences.  How 
has  this  happened  ?  Because  he  was  made  a,  free  agent. 
God,  in  His  Divine  Wisdom,  did  not  think  proper  to 
make  him  a  mere  machine — destitute  of  volition ;  but 


202  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

gave  him  the  liberty  of  choice — the  power  to  do  good  or 
evil,  without  which,  he  could  not  have  been  an  accountable 
being" 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

The  Conversation  Continued. 

"  PERMIT  me,  friend  Moon,"  said  Wren,  "  to  state,  I  do 
not  precisely  see  the  application  you  are  going  to  make  of 
the  preceding  observations.  That  order  is  manifested  in 
all  the  works  of  the  universe,  I  am  not  disposed  to  call  in 
question;  that  God  has  made  all  things  wisely  and  won 
derfully,  I  humbly  confess ;  but  I  will  wait  to  hear  your 
design  in  all  this  matter." 

"  I  was  going,  friend  Wren,  to  make  a  practical  appli 
cation,  ere  I  was  done.  I  stated,  man  was  a  free  agent. 
My  aim  will  be  to  show — in  violation  of  the  will  of  his 
Maker — how  shamefully  he  is  abusing  that  distinguished 
attribute  ;  instead  of  making  this  a  blissful  home,  as  he 
should  do — he  has  tilled  the  earth  with  turmoil,  devasta 
tion,  rapine  and  bloodshed.  He  has  converted  this  ely- 
sium  into  misery.  In  the  organization  of  man,  what 
masterly  workmanship  is  displayed  !  When  I  examine 
human  anatomy,  the  structure  of  our  earthly  tabernacle, 
I  must  confess,  though  it  is  complicate,  it  is  a  wonder 
ful  piece  of  machinery.  The  mind,  the  spiritual  sub 
stance,  controls  all  our  movements.  Reason,  enlightened 
reason  is  the  great  arbiter  of  our  actions,  that  weighs  as 
it  were,  in  a  balance,  the  fitness  of  things.  Reason  sits 
in  judgment  upon  the  propriety  of  laws,  or  all  other  mea 
sures  affecting  us  individually,  or  as  a  nation.  It  is  the 
monitor  upon  whose  still,  small  voice  we  must  rely,  to 
guide  our  unwary  feet  along  the  slippery  paths  of  life, 
flow  few  follow  its  dictates!  Here  is  the  source  of  all 
our  woe  upon  this  earth.  Reason  is  often  dethroned,  and 
we  abandon  ourselves  to  the  control  of  our  wicked,  un 
governable  passions." 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  203 

"  Now  I  ask  thee,  in  all  sincerity,  what  kind  of  a  spec 
tacle  does  humanity  present  to  us  at  this  day.  Go  to 
Europe,  to  the  Crimea  —  there  thou  canst  witness  what 
pride,  envy,  folly,  and  ambition  are  capable  of  achieving. 
Examine  the  heavy  guns,  the  invention  of  machinery  for 
mutual  slaughter.  There  stands  Sevastopol,  with  her 
towering  forts  and  bristling  cannon.  The  allies  are 
straggling  for  its  capture  —  the  Russians  to  defend  —  the 
work  of  death  still  progressing.  When  it  will  end  no  one 
can  foresee.  When  we  take  into  consideration  the  powers 
involved  in  the  contest,  we  cannot  refrain  from  thinking 
the  Eastern  war  is  destined  to  be  of  long  duration,  and 
one  of  a  very  sanguinary  character. 

"  But  when  I  come  to  cast  my  eyes  over  the  political 
condition  of  my  own — my  native  land — I  find  much,  very 
muck  to  deplore.  I  fear  the  demon  of  discord  has  been  let 
loose  in  our  midst,  and  there  are  preparing  for  our  beloved 
Union  calamities  tenfold  more  terrible  than  those  afflict 
ing  the  old  world." 

Shan,  in  the  corner,  says — "Aha !  the  old  rogue  has 
been  in  heaven,  traveled  up  and  down  the  universe,  over 
the  old  world,  but  has  at  last  got  back — now  we  are  going 
to  have  thunder !  I  told  brother  Wren  so ;  he  thought 
himself  wiser  than  I — but  Pll  be  mute." 

u  You,  friend  Moon,"  said  Wren,  "  spoke  of  discord  in 
our  country.  What  has  caused  it  but  African  slavery  ? 
Come,  point  out  to  us  the  origin  of  our  political  troubles 
and  their  remedy." 

"  That  our  beloved  country,  friend  Wren,  is  involved 
in  very  serious  troubles,  will  not  be  denied.  There  is  ail 
alienation  growing  up  between  North  and  South,  deeply 
to  be  deplored.  By  whose  agency  has  it  been  produced? 
is  the  great  inquiry.  I  will  tell  thee  how  it  has  been 
brought  to  pass.  Not  by  slavery,  no,  no!  that  shall  not 
be  made  the  '  scape-goat?  but  by  the  ''higher  law"1  party. 
Thou  knowest  how  strenuously  and  ardently  our  Society 
opposed  political  Abolition,  that  we  considered  it  unfor 
tunate  and  unwise  at  the  time,  and  yet  think  it  the  source 
of  immense  evil. 

"  I  have  already  intimated  the  value  of  order  in  society. 
Without  it  there  can  be  no  happiness  upon  earth. 


204:  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"  Now  the  end  and  aim  of  Government  and  Laws, 
are  to  establish  and  maintain  order;  but  this  can  only 
be  done  by  their  strict  and  uniform  observance.  I  would 
call  thy  attention  to  the  manner  of  making  laws,  not  in 
monarchies,  but  in  our  republic.  We  have  State  Legisla 
tures  and  a  Congress.  From  these  bodies  all  the  laws  in 
existence  have  emanated.  To  what  respect  are  those  laws 
entitled  by  every  member  of  our  Society  ?  To  be  satisfied 
on  this  point  we  must  look  for  a  moment  at  the  structure 
of  our  government.  Ours  is  a  representative  republic. 
The  people  are  held  to  be  the  sovereigns  —  not  that  they 
meet  in  a  body  to  enact  laws  or  to  execute  them — but  that 
they  select  the  persons  to  whom  those  powers  are  dele 
gated.  The  ballot-box  gives  to  the  people  the  absolute 
control  of  the  different  departments  of  the  government, 
as  they  could  have  in  a  democracy,  because  the  repre 
sentative  is  held  to  be  the  exponent  of  the  will  and  wishes 
of  his  constituents.  The  Legislative  Assembly  emanates 
directly  from  the  people,  and  to  them  is  confided  the  power 
to  enact  laws,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  governor.  In 
theory,  therefore,  the  laws  are  supposed  to  be  passed  in 
accordance  with  public  sentiment.  The  Law-making  de 
partment  of  our  government  is  alone  authorized  to  enact 
the  Statutes  which  fill  up  our  code.  If  they  are  objec 
tionable,  the  modification  or  repeal  must  proceed  from  the 
same  source.  The  way  to  enact  laws  is  clearly  laid  down 
in  our  Constitution. 

"  Must  laws,  fairly  and  regularly  enacted  by  the  ap 
pointed  authority,  be  set  at  naught  by  any  portion  of  the 
people?  What  of  the  higher  law — Gods  law?  I  say  to 
thee — I  say  to  all — how  dares  t  thou  elevate  thyself  above 
the  concentrated  wisdom  of  the  State,  or  of  the  nation  ? 
We  have  intrusted  to  the  wisest  and  best  men  in  the 
State  —  chosen  by  ourselves  —  the  right  to  make  laws 
for  us.  Did  they  not  know  God's  laws  fully  as  well  as 
thou?  Are  those  laws  only  known  to  Abolitionists? 
Have  they  been  made  the  peculiar  favorites  of  heaven — 
to  them,  and  them  only  has  God  disclosed  his  laws,  leav 
ing  all  the  rest  of  mankind  in  ignorance  of  their  nature 
and  effect? 

"  What  arrogant  presumption  !     But  look  at  the  effect 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  205 

of  this  'higher  law'  doctrine.  It  is  in  that  light  I  want 
thee  to  gaze  upon  it — to  meditate  upon  the  consequences 
which  flow  from  the  liberty  taken  to  abrogate  a  portion 
of  the  laws,  if  thy  higher  law  should  be  variant. 

"  Thou  art  not  sensible  of  the  danger  produced  by  such 
a  contempt  of  the  laws.  Dost  thou  not  know  it  opens  the 
floodgates  of  monocracy?  What  have  I  beheld  this  morn 
ing?.  A  youth  stripped  and  scourged,  not  in  obedience 
to  the  rules  of  the  College,  but  by  this  fc  higher  law.'  1  look 
upon  the  whole  tragedy  as  a  species  of  petty,  contemp 
tible  mobism.  Then  what  a  desecration  of  religion,  to 
pray  over  a  defenseless  youth  bound  with  cords,  and  to 
lay  on  the  lash  prayerfully?  My  God!  may  not  these 
aged  eyes  ever  look  upon  such  another  mournful  scene!" 

u  Why,  friend  Moon,  your  language  is  getting  to  be  too 
derogatory  to  be  endured." 

Shan,)  in  the  corner — "Oho!  oho!" 

u  Be  patient,  friend  Wren,  until  I  can  get  through  with 
my  admonitions.  I  will  first  give  you  my  views  of  this 
experiment  to  remove  the  prejudice  of  color,  and  then  I 
will  explain  more  fully  the  pernicious  tendency  of  Aboli 
tionism." 

'*  Go  on,  thou  crusty  old  soul,"  rejoined  Wren;  uwe 
will  try  to  bear  with  thy  abuse,  if  we  can." 

u  I  am  not  particular,  friend  Wren,  what  epithets  thou 
usest  in  speaking  of  me.  I  was  not  raised  in  the  circle 
of  courts  —  I  am  a  plain,  blunt  man,  and  I  do  not  lay 
claim  to  any  great  refinement  in  manners.  As  to  the  pre 
judice  of  race  and  color,  can  it  be  removed  by  founding 
colleges  like  this,  or  by  any  other  mode  we  can  possibly 
adopt  2  I  say  emphatically,  nay,  nay.  The  whites  have 
been  kept  distinct  up  to  our  time,  and  by  no  mixture  with 
the  blacks  will  they  ever  suffer  their  blood  to  be  adulte 
rated.  The  white,  the  black  and  yellow  races  will  be 
found  upon  this  earth  thousands  of  years  hence,  as  they 
arc  at  this  day.  Why  will  it  be  so?  Because  the  preju 
dice  now  felt,  will  go  down  from  generation  to  genera 
tion.  Among  the  different  nations  of  the  whites,  marriage 
relations  are.  not  often  formed.  The  Irish  and  Germans 
rarely  intermarry.  So  with  the  Native  Americans — will 
not  the  repugnance  be  much  stronger  to  an  intermarriage 


206  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

with  the  blacks  ?  I  come  to  the  conclusion,  therefore, 
that  it  is  perfectly  futile  to  expect  the  white  and  black 
races  will  ever  be  induced  to  amalgamate. 

"  I  come  now  to  Abolitionism,  of  which  this  College 
is  the  patron  and  the  type.  Is  not  sectional  strife  grow 
ing  at  an  awful  rate !  Are  not  the  signs  of  the  times 
fearfully  ominous  ?  Are  we  not  hurrying  on  to  the  vor 
tex  of  civil  discord?  Is  not  our  domestic  tranquillity 
greatly  disturbed  ?  Yerily  it  is.  And  how  have  all 
these  evils  been  produced  ?  By  a  departure  from  the 
plain,  salutary  principles  of  the  Federal  Compact,  and 
the  liberty  that  has  been  taken  to  dispense  with  the  laws. 
What  is  the  effort  now  making  to  raise  a  Northern  Party, 
who  shall  fight  under  the  banner  of  freedom,  but  to  in 
crease  the  irritation  already  existing  between  the  sections 
North  and  South  ?  Thou  wishest  to  add  fuel  to  the  flame 
already  intensely  burning." 

"  We  do  not,  friend  Moon,  propose  to  disturb  Slavery 
in  the  States,  but  only  to  exclude  it  from  the  Territories." 

"  What  a  flimsy  pretext,  friend  Wren !  The  great 
contest  is  only  over  the  Territories  !  Thou  wouldst  sun 
der  this  Union  rather  than  concede  to  the  South  the  right 
to  expand.  Thou  art  bitterly  opposed  to  the  admission 
of  any  more  Slave  States.  Canst  thou  not  see  such  an 
objection  goes  to  the  severance  of  the  Union  ?  If  thou 
hadst  so  great  a  distaste  to  Slavery,  as  to  keep  new  States 
on  that  account  out  of  the  Union,  how  canst  thou  tolerate 
the  company  of  those  already  in  ?  If  the  one  is  so  ab 
horrent,  the  continuance  of  the  South  in  the  Union  must 
be  equally  objectionable.  If  the  one  is  unworthy  to  come 
in,  surely  the  others  are  equally  unworthy  to  remain. 
Ever  since  1787,  the  North  has  been  in  alliance  with  the 
South,  and  what  new  light  has  burst  upon  the  world  to 
show  that  alliance  should  be  dissolved  ?  Is  the  North 
prepared  to  say  'she  is  tired  and  disgusted  with  the 
Union?'  Since  the  day  it  was  formed,  the  relative  con 
dition  of  the  South  has  undergone  no  change.  She  had 
slaves  then — she  has  them  yet.  She  is  no  worse  in  '55 
than  she  was  in  '87.  What  can  be  the  matter  ?  She  has 
done  nothing  to  give  umbrage  to  the  North.  There  she 
stands,  wearing  the  same  habiliments  she  had  on  at  the 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  207 

time  of  our  union  with  her.  She  is  passive,  bearing  all 
this  vituperation  without  a  murmur.  She  has  not  de 
manded  of  the  general  government  any  special  legislation 
in  her  favor.  On  an  equal  footing  with  the  North  she 
is  resigned  to  stand  or  fall ;  but  she  claims — ay  that  is 
her  great  offense — an  equal  privilege  in  settling  the  Terri 
tories.  This,  by  thy  party,  is  held  to  be  a  daring  aggres 
sion — a  wanton  encroachment." 

"  What  have  you  to  say,  friend  Moon,  of  the  Missouri 
ruffians?" 

"  What  have  I  to  say  of  them,  friend  Wren  ?  Thou 
knowest  1  abhor  inobism — violence  of  every  kind,  from 
the  bottom  of  my  heart.  Have  I  not  pleaded  with  thee  to 
reverence  and  obey  the  laws  of  the  land  without  any 
reservation  ?  Have  I  not  made  it  manifest  that,  by  this 
means  only,  the  peace,  the  happiness  of  society,  can  be 
maintained  and  preserved  ?  In  all  the  argument  that 
is  the  great  point  I  wished  to  place  on  an  immovable 
basis. 

"  But,  as  a  lover  of  his  country,  as  a  devoted  friend  to 
our  free  institutions,  I  have  to  examine  into  the  causes  of 
this  ruffianism,  to  probe  thoroughly  this  disease  that  is  af 
flicting  the  body  politic.  Now,  I  ask  thee,  how  it  has  hap 
pened  that  the  South  is  so  exasperated  agaiust  the  North  ? 
What  has  produced  this  change  there  in  public  feeling  f 
What  has  made  the  people  here  such  bad  and  disagree 
able  neighbors  that  their  company  is  abhorred?" 

"  I  can  assert,  friend  Moon,  it  is  owing  to  the  despot 
ism  of  slave-holders." 

"  Ay,  indeed.  The  North  is  guiltless  of  any  wrong. 
She  has  let  her  light  so  shine  that  others  will  see  and  con 
fess  her  good  works.  I  might  say,  let  those  who  are  in 
nocent  cast  the  first  stone.  Verily,  verily,  we  can  see  a 
mote  in  the  eyes  of  others,  while  a  beam  is  in  our  own. 
The  great  question  is,  have  the  people  North  fulfilled  their 
civil  and  religious  duties  in  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel  ?  The 
Abolitionists,  as  a  party,  claim  to  be  religious.  And  as 
to  thee,  thou  art  aspiring  to  perfection. 

"  Then  I  am  dealing  with  Christians,  the  followers  of 
the  meek  and  lowly  babe  of  Bethlehem — of  Him  who  had 
not  where  to  lay  his  head.  What  were  his  life  and  pre- 


208  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

cepts  ?  He  went  about  doing  good.  He  sought  not  the 
perishing  honors  of  this  earth  ;  His  kingdom  was  not  of 
this  world.  With  government,  politics,  or  laws  He  never 
concerned.  But  His  declaration  was, l  to  render  unto  Caesar 
the  things  that  were  Caesar's."  What  does  this  imply  ? 
Surely  that  His  mission  was  not  to  overthrow  the  settled 
orders  of  society,  but  to  fulfill  the  law.  He,  therefore, 
did  not  come  as  a  political  innovator — as  an  agitator. 
And  yet,  while  He  was  incarnate  there  was  an  ample  field 
for  the  exercise  of  philanthropy.  The  condition  of  the 
Jews — the  favorite  people  of  God — was  at  that  day  far 
from  being  comfortable.  They  were  groaning  under  the 
iron  despotism  of  Imperial  Rome.  They  had  been  con 
quered  and  absorbed  in  that  mighty  empire.  Through 
out  its  vast  extent  slavery,  the  most  cruel  and  debased, 
existed.  Notwithstanding,  not  a  word  escaped  the  divine 
Saviour  in  condemnation  of  the  institutions  of  the  day. 

"  Art  thou  and  others  aiming  to  tread  in  His  footsteps  ? 
Thy  duty  is  plain.  Thou  canst  not  be  a  political  inno 
vator — thy  agitation  must  cease.  What  did  St.  Paul  do, 
when  he  met  with  Onesimus,  a  fugitive  slave  ?  Did  he 
aid  arid  secrete  him  so  as  to  deprive  his  master  of  his 
services  ?  Nay,  nay  ;  so  far  from  it,  he  enjoined  it  upon 
him  to  go  and  submit  himself  to  his  authority ;  he  sent 
him  back. 

"  I  may  be  singular,  but  I  have  been  meditating  upon 
our  want  of  Christian  duty  and  fidelity.  Suppose  we,  in 
Ohio,  had  followed  Paul's  example.  We  find  a  fugitive 
slave  on  our  side ;  we  take  him  back  to  the  owner — de 
liver  him  up  according  to  our  plighted  faith.  If  it  were 
me,  I  would  say  to  such  slave, 4  Go  with  me  to  thy  owner ; 
it  is  my  civil  duty  to  deliver  thee  up.  I  cannot  aid  or 
encourage  thee  in  running  away ;  a  few  might  thus  make 
their  escape,  but  it  will  be  a  great  injury  to  those  still  in 
bondage.  Go  back  and  bear  the  yoke  with  the  rest  of  thy 
brethren,  until  the  Lord  shall  open  a  way  for  a  general 
emancipation.  If  I  were  to  assist  thee  in  making  thy 
escape,  it  would  make  me  the  enemy  of  thy  master.  I 
could  not  do  anything  with  him  by  persuasion — it  would 
harden  his  heart — and  hence  he  will  not  let  thee  and 
others  go.  This  would  be  unfortunate  to  all  thy  kindred 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  209 

after  the  flesh  yet  in  bondage.  But  by  thy  going  back 
with  me,  I  can  approach  him,  and  my  entreaties  will  be 
heard,  because  he  will  esteem  me  his  friend.  On  such 
an  occasion  1  could  say  to  him  :  My  friend,  I  found  thy 
slave  on  my  side  of  the  river,  trying  to  escape  from  thy 
service.  As  a  citizen  of  this  Union,  and  as  thy  neighbor, 
I  have  felt  myself  constrained  to  bring  him  back,  and  to 
deliver  him  up  to  thee ;  I  have  exhorted  him  to  yield  obe 
dience  to  thy  authority,  and  not  to  attempt  to  leave  thee. 
I  commend  him  to  thy  mercy  for  this  transgression,  and 
by  pardoning  him,  he  will  be  more  faithful  and  true  in 
future. 

"  Would  not  such  a  course  as  this,  had  it  been  univer 
sally  adopted,  borne  good  fruits  ? — ay,  it  would  have 
cemented  this  Union,  and  its  foundation  would  have  been 
a  rock,  against  which  factions  and  foreign  influence  would 
have  beat  in  vain. 

"  I  ask  thee,  if  this  would  not  have  been  following  the 
precepts  and  examples  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  ?  As 
Christians,  we  must  not  be  the  disturbers  of  the  public 
peace.  We  must  respect  the  public  authority.  Dost  thou 
not  find  Christians  living  under  the  mildest,  as  well  as 
the  most  despotic  governments  ?  Thou  hast  been  in 
England,  among  lords  and  royalty.  Did  it  ever  occur  to 
thee  to  proclaim  thy  inalienable  rights  then — td  advocate 
a  perfect  equality  ?  Dost  thou  imagine  Mrs.  Stowe  ever 
told  the  Duchess  of  Sutherland  there  was  no  royalty  in 
blood  ?  that  the  union  between  Church  and  State  was 
absurd  ?  that  the  law  of  primogeniture — to  create  and 
perpetuate  the  lords  of  the  realm — was  anti-republican,  and 
ought  to  be  repealed  ?  Or  didst  thou  ever  assail  these 
distinctions  in  society  ?  Thy  lips  were  sealed  as  well  as 
hers,  on  these  favorite  topics,  while  sojourning  in  Eng 
land.  The  c  higher  law'  is  unknown  in  the  vigorous  reign 
of  monarchy.  The  Christians  in  that  realm,  are  not  like 
thee,  contending  for  political  innovation.  They  are 
quietly  and  peaceably  fulfilling  their  mission  upon  earth ; 
to  do  good  to  all  men ;  to  love  their  enemies,  and  diffuse 
the  spirit  of  love  and  charity. 

"  But  what  must  I  say  to  thee,  the  head  and  represen 
tative  of  Abolitionism?  Thou  wert  quiet  as  a  lamb 
18 


210  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

among  lords  and  queens  ;  thou  didst  not  open  thy  mouth, 
but  in  praise  of  all  the  dazzling  splendor  thy  eyes  beheld. 
Thou  wast  not  able  to  see  and  preach  the  '  higher  law,' 
among  the  aristocracy  and  nobility  of  that  proud  and 
haughty  island.  The  poor,  in  that  country,  never  enjoyed 
thy  sympathy.  Thou  didst  not  plead  for  their  elevation. 
That  all  mankind  were  born  equal,  had  slipped  from  thy 
memory,  or  could  not  be  very  safely  insisted  upon  at  that 
particular  time.  But  thou  didst  reserve  all  the  gall  rank 
ling  in  thy  heart  for  this  devoted  land. 

u  Thou  hast  accused  the  Missourians  of  ruffianism. 
Thou  and  thy  friends  must  be  held  accountable  for  it 
all." 

"  Why,  friend  Moon,  how  can  you  lay  such  things  to 
our  charge  ?" 

"  Pray,  friend  Wren,  how  came  the  Missourians  thy 
enemies  ?  The  Scripture  says,  4  those  that  want  friends 
must  show  themselves  friendly.  Hast  thou  so  acted  ? 
Nay,  nay.  Hadst  thou  acted  as  St.  Paul,  in  respect  to 
slaves,  dost  thou  not  know  the  South  would,  this  day, 
honor  and  respect  thee.  They  would  be  thy  friends, 
instead  of  thy  enemies.  What  has  been  thy  course  f  To 
injure,  to  insult,  and  abuse  the  South.  Thou  hast  enticed 
away  their  slaves,  and  conveyed  them  into  a  foreign  juris 
diction.  Thy  friends  have  moiled  the  owners  or  agents. 
The  blood  of  Gorsuch  yet  crieth  from  the  ground ;  how 
many  southern  citizens,  in  traveling  among  us,  have  had 
their  slaves  torn  from  them  by  mol  violence!  I  fain  think 
the  lady  who  had  her  colored  nurse  forcibly  dragged  from 
around  her  neck,  would  be  apt  to  accuse  thy  people  of 
some  degree  of  ruffianism.  How  many  owners,  after 
getting  possession  of  their  slaves  in  our  State,  have  had 
them  violently  rescued  by  a  mob,  and  their  lives  endan 
gered  !  Was  not  this  ruffianism  too  ? 

"  By  these  and  similar  acts,  we  have  converted  the 
South  into  an  enemy.  Have  we  not  much  to  blame  our 
selves  with  ?  Why  do  the  people  of  Missouri  abhor  the 
Abolitionists  ?  Because  they  consider  them  dangerous 
to  their  peace  and  safety.  They  have  used  ruffianism 
against  slave-holders.  Now,  when  it  comes  to  be  retali 
ated,  how  horrible  it  sounds  !  These  things,  too,  flow 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  211 

from  the  prevalence  of  the  high  law  doctrine.  By  its  in 
fluence  the  laws  of  the  land  have  fallen  into  disrepute, 
and  have  become  a  by- word.  Now  see  how  strangely 
these  things  work.  Here  that  law  is  administered  with 
out  detriment  to  us,  but  to  the  injury  and  damage  of  the 
citizens  of  our  sister  States.  From  thee  and  thy  friends 
1  have  heard  of  no  complaint  of  mobism  against  slave 
holders.  The  liberty  thou  and  others  have  taken  of  seiz 
ing  the  law  in  thy  own  hands,  has  been  followed  by  the 
Missourians.  However,  in  this  instance,  the  higher  law 
chanced  to  work  against  thee.  The  Abolitionists  now 
become  the  sufferers.  The  scale  is  turned  against  thee. 
I  ask  thee,  in  all  charity,  have  not  the  people  in  Missouri 
the  same  right  to  adopt  and  enforce  the  higher  law  as 
thou  hast  ?  Is  mobism  there  less  excusable  than  mobism 
here  ?  If  it  be  right  in  one  place,  it  must  be  equally  so 
in  another.  But  its  tendency  is  disorganization  every 
where.  It  is  bound  to  lead  to  the  most  fatal  results.  To 
that  point  it  must  and  will  come. 

"  Cast  thy  eyes  to  Kansas.  What  is  there  transpiring  ? 
A  resistance  to  the  constitutional  authority  of  the  Terri 
tory.  The  Legislature  and  its  acts  are  spurned  by  the 
Abolitionists.  Why  ?  because  the  Legislature  happened 
to  be  pro-slavery,  and  hence  were  incompetent  to  pass 
laws,  though  they  could  exhibit  Governor  Keeder's  certifi 
cate  of  election — an  election  held  in  obedience  to  his  own 
proclamation — yet  these  evidences  of  their  legal  existence 
were  of  no  avail.  The  Abolitionists  have  united  to  form 
a  State  Government — have  elected  Gov.  Reeder  as  dele 
gate  to  Congress  in  defiance  of  law,  and  without  even  the 
shadow  of  authority. 

"  I  implore  thee  to  meditate  upon  the  disorganizing 
disposition  all  such  acts  display.  Oh,  my  friend,  what 
awful  consequences  must  ensue  from  such  a  dangerous 
spirit  in  our  country !  Is  there  anything  cheering  in  this 
aspect  of  public  affairs  ?  Nay,  nay,  patriotism  must  weep 
over  the  political  follies  of  the  age.  How  suicidal  to  be 
stirring  up  the  bitter  waters  of  sectional  strife ! 

u  One  thing  I  ask  myself,  have  we  discharged  our  duties, 
as  citizens  of  this  great  community,  with  Christian  fellow 
ship?  Thou  knowest  the  North  has  denationalized  -the 


212  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

Church.  The  different  sects  are  divided — each  has  a 
Church  North — one  South.  If  the  lovers  of  "Christ, 
whoso  Church  was  to  constitute  Unity,  are  thus  estranged, 
how  taint  the  hope  of  preserving  our  political  Union. 

"What  was  the  test  by  which  we  could  tell  whether  we 
were  his  true  disciples  ?  Verily,  the  love  we  felt  for  our 
brethren.  Where  is  that  love  which  forms  the  essence  of 
true  religion  ?  Friend  Wren,  can  I  read  it  in  thy  acts  ? 
Words  are  valueless,  unless  confirmed  by  our  deeds." 

"  I  am  disposed,  friend  Moon,  to  bear  with  the  gall 
and  bitterness  rankling  in  thy  bosom.  Let  it  all  find 
vent — like  a  serpent  in  the  grass,  thy  tongue  is  forked 
and  nimble — dealing  censure  to  the  right  and  left." 

u  Be  not  offended,  friend  Wren,  the  day  may  come  when 
these  words,  so  offensive  in  thy  ears,  the  world  will  ac 
knowledge,  were  uttered  in  soberness  and  in  truth.  Go 
on  in  thy  madness.  Sever  the  Christian  community — 
that  will  be  only  a  small  portion  of  thy  work.  The 
political  ties  which  make  us  one  people,  must  next  be 
destroyed.  Thy  sacriligious  hand  will  not  be  staid  till 
both  Church  and  State  lie  prostrate  in  the  dust. 

u  But  another  important  inquiry  arises,  Can  this  Union 
be  dissolved  quietly— peaceably  ?  Can  we  fall  back  into 
our  original  elements  by  mutual  consent  ?  The  question 
is  one  of  deep  moment  to  us  all.  Revolutions  are  seldom 
bloodless ;  in  our  case  it  will  surely  be  impossible.  A 
collision  will  arise  in  Kansas  between  the  North  and 
South,  and  it  may  spread  like  a  devastating  fire.  A  fear 
ful  retribution  may  be  at  hand  for  the  abuse  of  those 
great  blessings  we  have  so  long  enjoyed.  From  these 
walls  I  now  depart,  never  more  to  return." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  213 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

Departure  from  Oberlin — Conversation  with  Lucy  Brown. 

THE  bugle  of  the  omnibus  sounded  as  the  last  words 
dropped  from  the  'Squire's  lips.  He  and  David,  without 
loss  of  time,  took  their  seats  and  were  rattling  off  to 
Cleveland  in  a  hurried  pace.  Near  the  'Squire  chanced 
to  sit  a  very  handsome  young  lady  in  the  bloom  of  life. 
The  'Squire  could  not  refrain  from  introducing  conversa 
tion  in  the  following  manner  : 

u  Thou  wilt,  young  woman,  not  be  offended  at  the 
liberty  I  take  of  introducing  conversation.  I  have  had  a 
temporary  residence  at  Oberlin,  and  I  remember  to  have 
noticed  thee  among  the  students.  I  go  by  the  name  of 
Moon  ;  I  am  thought  to  be  a  strange  old  Quaker." 

"  From  one  of  your  age,  I  will  not  be  offended  at  the 
liberty  you  have  taken,  Mr.  Moon.  I  heard  it  whispered 
around  among  the  students,  this  morning,  you  were  a 
perfect  puzzle  to  the  whole  faculty.  What  was  the  mat 
ter  I  could  not  distinctly  ascertain.  Hence  I  am  prompted 
by  curiosity  to  form  an  acquaintance  with  you — my  name 
is  Lucy  Brown." 

"  I  do  not  know,  Lucy,  how  I  happened  to  be  a  puzzle 
to  the  faculty  —  wise  men  as  they  are.  I  was  asked  how 
I  fancied  the  plan  of  educating  the  whites  and  blacks 
together,  and  I  did  not  give  a  favorable  response." 

"  Why,  Mr.  Moon,  I  did  not  think  anybody  would  take 
that  liberty — not  even  a  Quaker,  candid  as  they  are." 

"  Verily,  Lucy,  if  I  venture  to  speak  at  all,  I  must  ex 
press  the  honest  convictions  of  my  own  mind.  My  object 
is  to  conciliate,  not  to  widen  the  breach  between  the  two 
sections.  I  would  like  to  restore  domestic  tranquillity, 
to  promote  which  was  one  of  the  objects  of  this  Union." 

"A  blessing  was  pronounced,  Mr.  Moon,  upon  peace 
makers,  and  they  ought  to  be  blessed.  On  this  very  ground 
I  have  always  admired  your  Society.  How  much  hap 
pier  this  world  would  be  if  confusion,  turmoil  and  blood 
shed  could  be  banished.  I  am  tired — heartily  tired  of  this 


214  ABOLITIONISM  UNVEILED. 

everlasting  wrangling  I  daily  hear.  Why  can  we  not  live 
in  more  quietude  ?" 

"  Prosperity  has  intoxicated  us,  Lucy.  We  are  running 
into  licentiousness.  Great  as  our  freedom  is,  it  does  not 
satisfy  our  wicked  natures,  we  must  take  the  law  in  our 
own  hands  and  make  our  government  for  its  imbecility  a 
by -word  and  reproach  among  nations." 

"  Is  not  that  too  bad,  Mr.  Moon.  What  thoughtless 
beings  we  must  be!  How  strangely  we  act  ?  What  more 
do  we  need  to  make  us  happy  ?  If  I  were  put  to  the  tor 
ture  I  could  not  tell  what  is  lacking." 

"  I  agree  with  thee  in  that,  Lucy.  Man  is  a  complete 
paradox.  Now  think  of  this  nation,  blessed  beyond 
measure,  rent  almost  in  twain  by  intestine  discord  and 
faction,  on  the  point  of  crumbling  to  atoms." 

"  I  have  often  thought,  Mr.  Moon,  of  our  situation  as  a 
nation — it  reminds  me  of  a  family  living  near  my  home. 
Their  tongues  were  never  idle  from  morning  till  night.  The 
husband  and  wife  would  quarrel  and  fight,  then  the  child 
ren  would  come  to  blows.  I  declare,  such  a  life  is  not 
worth  living.  Where  that  is  the  case,  what  pleasure  can 
there  be  on  earth  ?" 

"  Yerily,  none,  Lucy.  Well,  this  nation  somewhat 
resembles  that  family.  As  to  fighting,  we  have  not  quite 
got  at  it,  but  it  is  close  at  hand.  Quarreling  we  are  doing 
on  a  magnificent  scale." 

"  I  think  so  Mr.  Moon.  I  hear  unceasing  abuse  of  the 
South.  Monstrous  efforts  are  making  to  bring  African 
slavery  to  an  end.  Has  the  North  a  right  to  coerce  eman 
cipation,  or  to  dictate  in  the  matter  ?" 

"  To  understand  that  point,  Lucy,  we  will  just  suppose 
the  thirty-two  States  are  that  many  families  living  in 
union  together,  each  one  reserving  the  privilege  of  con 
trolling  and  managing  its  domestic  affairs  in  its  own  way. 
All  these  families  might  thus  live  in  harmony  if  none 
interfered  with  the  private  affairs  of  others." 

"I  know  this  from  experience,  friend  Moon.  We  had 
once  the  most  pleasant  and  agreeable  neighborhood  you 
ever  knew.  We  were  all  living  in  harmony  ;  but  a  few 
families  came  in  among  us,  that  were  busybodies.  They 
were  not  Content  to  attend  to  their  own  business,  but  were 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  215 

poking  their  noses  in  every  one's  face.  It  was  a  precious 
short  time  before  they  had  all  the  neighbors  at  variance 
by  the  propensity  of  telling  tales.  They  were  meddle 
some  people  and  would  cause  trouble  wherever  they 
went." 

"  It  has  been  so  with  the  States  of  this  Union,  Lucy. 
They  long  lived  in  friendship,  until  the  North  began  to 
think  she  was  more  competent  to  manage  the  affairs  of 
the  South  than  the  South  herself.  Thou  knowest  no 
family  likes  such  interference — it  will  be  sure  to  give  um 
brage  and  make  enemies." 

"  Yes,  I  know  that,  Mr.  Moon.  I  have  never  seen  a 
family,  however  badly  they  may  manage,  that  would  per 
mit  others  to  direct  and  control  them.  I  suppose  the 
North  thinks  that  Slavery  is  an  evil  and  ought  to  be 
abolished?" 

"  Grant  that  it  is  an  evil,  Lucy,  yet  that  is  not  the 
question  for  this  age  to  solve.  It  has  descended  from  an 
early  period  in  our  history  down  to  our  day.  In  deciding 
upon  the  expediency  of  abolishing  Slavery,  we  have  to 
take  into  consideration  the  interest  of  the  whites  and 
blacks  both.  Thou  wouldst  not  turn  all  the  negroes  loose 
at  the  South,  if  thou  couldst  believe,  by  such  an  act,  thou 
wouldst  make  the  condition  of  both  races  infinitely  worse  ?" 

uOh!  no;  we  ought,  Mr.  Moon,  to  think  of  all  those 
things.  Nothing  ought  to  be  done  rashly." 

"  We  should,  Lucy,  in  the  first  place,  ask  ourselves 
whether  the  negroes,  if  liberated,  are  capable  of  enjoying 
freedom — if  they  are  not,  it  would  prove  a  curse  to  them 
and  others.  Take  Hayti,  for  example.  There  they  mas 
sacred  the  owners,  and  have  had  absolute  control  of  the 
island  ever  since.  A  few  years  ago  they  put  up  a  despot 
whom  they  call  Emperor.  Solouque  is  now  their  master, 
and  they  are  no  less  slaves  than  they  were  before." 

u  They  acted  very  barbarously  indeed,  Mr.  Moon,  and 
yet  they  have  gained  nothing  by  such  an  awful  tragedy. 
Well,  I  do  not  know  what  to  make  of  such  creatures." 

"  Here  is  another  matter  we  ought  to  think  of,  Lucy. 
The  whites  and  slaves  are  now  living  together  $&  friends. 
They  love  and  respect  each  other.  By  the  proposed 
change,  shall  we  not  make  them  enemies?  There  is.  a 


216  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

pride  of  races  not  easily  exterminated.  How  dost  thou 
admire  this  mixed  school?" 

"  Not  at  all,  Mr.  Moon.  I  feel  greatly  mortified  to 
have  to  keep  company  with  black  people,  but  my  parents 
would  have  me  go.  *  1  would  not  be  obstinate,  and  yielded 
to  their  earnest  entreaties." 

u  Then,  Lucy,  thou  hast  a  little  of  the  prejudice  of  race, 
which  seems  inherent  to  the  Anglo-Saxon.  I  have  often 
thought  how  it  has  happened  the  different  races  of  people 
have  kept  so  distinct  and  separate.  Europe,  Asia,  and 
Africa  are  conterminous  countries  and  have  had,  in  all 
ages,  considerable  intercourse.  If  the  whites  in  early 
ages  had  taken  a  fancy  to  the  blacks,  our  color  might  have 
been  extinct  long  ago.  But  I  presume,  they  had  not  been 
indoctrinated  into  the  equality  of  races  —  a  discovery 
reserved  for  this  age  !" 

"  Sure  enough,  that  is  a  curious  piece  of  history,  Mr. 
Moon.  I  do  suppose,  the  African  belles  were  not  so 
charming  in  that  day;  at  any  rate  our  ancestors  did  not 
think  so,  or  otherwise  there  would  now  be  no  contest 
about  colors." 

"  Then,  again,  there  was  Asia — the  abode  of  the  yellow 
race,  Lucy,  to  which  the  men  might  have  resorted  for 
wives,  if  the  intermixture  of  blood  is  so  desirable." 

u  If  I  was  bound  to  marry  either,  Mr.  Moon,  I  don't 
know  that  I  would  not  prefer  the  yellow — the  dye  being 
not  quite  so  deep.  But  I  am  contented  with  my  own 
race — I  want  nothing  better.  With  others,  I  will  not  fall 
out  about  their  peculiar  tastes;  all  I  can  say,  is,  a  colored 
person  will  never  please  my  fancy." 

u  That  resolution  is  worthy  of  thy  origin,  Lucy.  Our 
mothers  had  the  same  indomitable  pride.  Hence  the 
purity  of  our  blood.  Whiteness  is  yet  our  peculiar  char 
acteristic,  and  has  suffered  no  adulteration.  But  now, 
the  intermarriage  of  whites  and  blacks,  is  openly  advo 
cated." 

"  I  think  that  is  disgraceful,  Mr.  Moon,  that  we  must 
discard  our  own  race,  and  prefer  another,  so  dissimilar  in 
form  and  color.  I  shall  follow,  in  this  respect,  the  ex 
ample  of  our  mothers  and  fathers  ;  shun  all  admixture ; 
and  thus  preserve  the  white  race  from  extinction." 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  217 

"  I  flatter  myself,  that  will  meet  with  a  response  from 
all  the  true-hearted  Anglo-Saxon  women  of  America.  I 
would  that  I  could  put  it  to  a  vote,  to  see  how  few  the 
number  that  would  prefer  to  be  affianced  to  the  negro ; 
but  it  would  be  an  insult  to  them,  even  to  propound  such 
a  question." 

4fc  Yes,  indeed,  Mr.  Moon,  it  would  create  such  a  storm, 
that  none  could  stand  before  it.  I  should  like  to  see  the 
young  man  who  would  prefer  black  women  to  us.  I 
would  be  one  who  would  help  to  black  him,  and  drive 
him  forever  from  our  circle." 

44  Great  is  the  complicity  of  our  public  affairs,  Lucy. 
This  noble  country — the  heritage  of  the  Anglo-Saxon, 
won  by  his  valor  and  blood,  seems  to  be  claimed  by  every 
hue  and  color  of  Adam's  fallen  race." 

44  The  black  people,  Mr.  Moon,  have  held  conventions, 
and  insist  upon  equal  social,  and  political  privileges — 
what  a  bold  pretension  !" 

44  We  have,  Lucy,  generously  made  this  the  asylum  for 
the  oppressed  of  all  nations.  Foreigners  have  crowded 
in  among  us,  after  the  battles  have  been  fought,  and  the 
victory  won ;  and  they  have  turned  up  their  heels 
against  us.  Here,  again,  are  the  negroes,  from  the  shores 
of  Africa,  no  less  hostile  to  the  Americans — born  and 
reared  on  the  soil." 

44  I  should  like  to  know  who  hold  the  title  in  fee-simple 
to  this  rich  and  extensive  domain  ;  if  it  be  not  in  'those 
who  have  shed  their  blood,  and  expended  their  treasury 
in  its  acquisition  ?" 

44  That  is  an  important  question,  Lucy.  Our  fore 
fathers  came  over  here,  found  the  Indians  in  quiet  posses 
sion — the  Aborigines  of  the  country — drove  them  back, 
and  wrested  their  lands  from  them  at  the  point  of  the 
sword.  Stripped  of  his  hunting-ground,  the  poor  Indian 
has  melted  away." 

44  How  cruel  that  was,  Mr.  Moon  !  Only  think  of  this 
strange  mutation!  The  Indians  had  no  sympathy;  they 
were  despoiled  of  their  homes — not  a  tear  was  shed  over 
their  hard  fate.  Our  whole  aifection  is  concentrated  on  the 
black  people,  a  race  who  were  introduced  to  America  as 
slaves*  Are  we  not  under  stronger  obligations,  to  admit 
19 


218  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

the  Indians  to  an  equality  with  us — and  who  has  ever 
thought  of  such  a  thing  ?" 

"  Verily,  Lucy,  while  with  one  hand,  we  press  back  the 
Indian  to  the  barren  deserts  of  the  West,  there  to  pine 
away  and  die,  with  the  other  hand,  we  are  pressing  the 
Africans  to  our  bosoms,  and  bidding  them  welcome  to  all 
our  blessings  and  privileges.  I  mean  a  portion  of  our 
people." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  understand  you  in  that  way — I  can  guess 
your  allusion,  Mr.  Moon — it  is  to  the  Abolitionists" 

"  Yea,  verily,  Lucy.  Upon  them,  and  them  only,  the 
censure  falls.  Their  works  are  evil — no  good  can  result 
from  their  schemes.  The  prejudice  of  color  cannot  be  re 
moved  ;  our  race  will  treat  with  scorn  and  contempt,  these 
vain  efforts  at  amalgamation.  It  is  one  of  those  things 
that  can  never  be.  Cast  your  eyes  to  Europe  ;  there  our 
race  remain  in  their  pristine  purity.  It  never  occurred 
to  them  to  import  wives  for  their  sons,  and  husbands  for 
their  daughters  from  Negroland,  in  Africa.  Not  at  all. 
I  imagine  such  a  proposition  would  meet  with  no  favor  in 
the  Old  World." 

"  Neither  ought  it  anywhere,  Mr.  Moon.  The  Medi 
terranean  Sea  rolls  its  waves  between  Europe  and  Africa; 
but  though  it  were  all  dry  land,  intermarriage  between 
the  two  races  would  be  a  rarity.  Not  only  now,  but  in 
all  past  ages,  the  continent  of  Africa  has  been  the  pe 
culiar  abode  of  the  black  people.  Though  thousands  of 
years  have  elapsed,  yet  the  two  races  have  continued  se 
parate  and  distinct ;  and  I  am  inclined  to  think,  they  will 
so  remain  until  time  shall  end." 

u  Of  that  I  have  no  doubt,  Lucy.  North  America  has 
been  appropriated  to  the  Anglo-Saxons.  They  have  sub 
dued  the  wilderness,  opened  farms,  built  up  cities,  con 
structed  railways,  and  invented  telegraphs.  They  stand 
forth  the  predominant  race,  and  will  control  the  destiny 
of  these  United  States,  notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  to 
give  the  negro  so  much  consequence  in  our  history." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  219 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

David  and  the  'Squire  depart  from  Cleveland  to  Cincinnati — Long  con 
versation  with  Darby. 

Soon  after  getting  into  the  cars,  David  recognized 
Darby,  the  Englishman,  with  whom  he  had  heretofore 
formed  an  acquaintance.  He  introduced  him  to  the 
'Squire,  whereupon  the  following  conversation  arose : 

"  I  am  very  happy,  'Squire,"  said  Darby,  "  to  meet 
with  you.  1  have  for  some  months,  been  exploring  this 
great  country — for  great  it  is  in  magnitude,  in  wealth,  and 
resources.  I  admire  it  much,  and  have  to  it  one  strong 
objection — that  is,  to  this  abominable  African  Slavery." 

u  Well,  Mr.  Darby,"  said  the  'Squire,  "  this  world  is 
sadly  out  of  joint,  in  many  respects.  We  have,  in  our  day, 
people  wise  enough  in  their  own  conceit,  to  re-organize 
society,  and  make  it  a  great  deal  better  than  we  now  find 
it.  This  universal  Yankee  nation,  by  giving  them  free 
scope,  will  undertake  to  re-model  all  the  governments 
upon  earth.  They  will  tear  them  all  down,  and  make 
sad  havoc  of  thrones,  principalities,  and  powers." 

u  I  judge  so,  'Squire,  if  such  political  tinkers  could 
have  their  own  way.  The  Old  World  would  be  a  poor 
theater  for  them  to  display  their  talents,  for  the  heads 
would  not  remain  on  their  shoulders  long  enough  to  en 
able  them  to  mature  their  schemes." 

"  That  is  altogether  likely,  Mr.  Darby.  We  have  a 
surplus  of  political  wisdom  in  our  country,  that  might  be 
profitably  employed  abroad.  We  used  to  flatter  ourselves, 
that  we  had  the  best  government  upon  earth ;  but  it  is 
liable  at  last,  to  many  and  serious  objections — even  an 
Englishman  can  point  out  many  blemishes  in  it." 

ik  Why,  'Squire,  I  merely  complained  of  Slavery.  I 
thought  what  a  dark  stain  that  was  upon  your  national 
escutcheon." 

"  But  you  will  pardon  me  for  observing,  Mr.  Darby, 
that  is  a  very  delicate  question  for  a  foreigner  to  touch. 
On  that  point,  we,  of  the  South,  are  very  sensitive''' 


220  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

<c  Unnecessarily  so,  'Squire,  it  seems  to  me.  Why  is 
the  discussion  of  it  so  dreadful  ?" 

"  If  I  were  disposed,  Mr.  Darby,  I  might  retort  by  ask 
ing  you  another  question  in  true  Yankee  style." 

"  Very  well,  'Squire.  Pray,  what  kind  of  question 
would  that  be  ?" 

"  How  you  would  like  to  let  a  live  Yankee  into  Eng 
land,  and  give  him  unrestrained  liberty  to  go  his  whole 
length  upon  the  inalienable  rights  of  man  ?" 

'*Upon  my  word,  'Squire,  you  are  rather  a  tart  old 
gentleman  after  all.  I  should  consider  that  a  dangerous 
experiment." 

u  I  suppose  it  would  be,  Mr.  Darby  ;  but  if  your  gov 
ernment  could  not  stand  up  under  one  tongue  of  that  kind, 
how  do  you  suppose  ours  can  exist  where  thousands  of 
such  are  continually  going  ?" 

u  I  think  yours,  'Squire,  is  brought  to  a  halt.  I  'm-  not 
so  sure  that  your  vessel  of  State  is  not  tied  up  fast  to  the 
shore,  there  to  remain  for  a  season." 

"That  is  our  fix,  nationally,  I  candidly  confess,  Mr. 
Darby,  and  that  was  the  reason  I  wanted  all  the  rest  of 
the  governments  tied  up  too,  till  ours  could  get  extricated. 
I  am  well  apprized  of  the  skill  of  the  Yankees  in  this 
respect,  and  have  little  doubt,  with  a  fair  opportunity, 
they  can  perform  the  same  kind  office  for  other  nations." 

u  We  don't  want  any  such  pilots,  'Squire,  in  our  seas. 
At  this  critical  period  it  will  not  do  to  tie  up  our  govern 
ments.  They  have  too  much  work  on  hand  just  now  to 
be  brought  to  a  dead  halt" 

u  Now  you  know  misery  loves  company,  Mr.  Darby. 
Our  strong  limbs  are  bound  in  cords,  our  destiny  is  not 
to  go  ahead  at  this  time,  but  to  stand  still,  if  we  can." 

"  Now  you  are  enjoying  the  rich  fruits  of  republican 
ism,  'Squire.  See  what  your  liberty  of  speech — of  the 
press — has  brought  you  to  !  Was  there  ever  such  a  chaos 
in  any  country — such  divisions  and  distractions?" 

u  1  grant  it  all,  but  how  has  it  been  brought  about,  Mr. 
Darby?  Only  one  question  has  involved  us  in  this  un 
pleasant  condition  —  that  is,  Slavery.  The  North,  the 
great  hive  of  these  Yankees,  has  done  the  whole  work. 
It  would  not  let  well  enough  alone;  it  tried  to  make 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  221 

matters  better,  and  it  can  be  seen  now  how  well  it  has 
succeeded.  Had  the  general  government,  or  rather  the 
people  of  the  Free  States,  left  this  question  to  the  local 
authorities,  where  it  properly  belongs,  we  should  not  be 
suffering  this  national  embarrassment." 

u  1  perceive,  'Squire,  the  structure  of  your  government 
is  widely  different  from  ours.  The  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain,  whenever  all  the  estates  of  the  realm  agree,  is 
held  to  be  omnipotent.  Hence  the  emancipation  of  the 
slaves  in  our  West  India  islands  was  effected  not  by  their 
local  legislatures,  but  by  the  act  of  the  home  government. 
The  wishes  of  the  planters  were  not  suffered  to  have  any 
influence  in  deciding  such  a  question." 

u  You  must  admit,  however,  Mr.  Darby,  it  was  a  ques 
tion  deeply  affecting  their  interest  and  prosperity.  It  was 
a  very  arbitrary  proceeding,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  and 
shows  plainly  the  nature  of  your  government.  You  must 
admit  the  planters  were  more  competent  to  settle  the 
question,  having  in  the  matter  a  very  strong  and  pecu 
liar  interest" 

"Away  with  such  republican  follies,  'Squire.  How 
ridiculous  the  idea  to  place  the  will  of  a  few  such  persons 
in  opposition  to  the  united  wisdom  of  queen,  lords,  and 
commons  in  parliament  assembled.  Such  arrogant  pre 
tensions  on  the  part  of  the  colonies,  we  do  not  suffer  for 
a  moment  to  be  put  forth.  We,  at  home,  claim  to  be  the 
best  judges  of  what  measures  are  best  for  them,  and  we 
will  not  have  our  power  and  authority  disputed." 

tc  The  despotism  of  your  government  is  an  established 
fact,  Mr.  Darby,  that  will  not  be  controverted.  In  their 
struggles  for  independence,  our  forefathers  experienced  a 
little  of  your  motherly  kindness.  They  denied,  and  suc 
cessfully,  that  England  could  bind  them  in  all  cases  what 
soever.  But  there  is  one  circumstance  connected  with  this 
emancipation,  which,  for  the  honor  of  England,  ought  to 
be  mentioned — the  appropriation  of  twenty  millions  of 
pounds  as  compensation  to  the  planters  for  the  loss  of 
their  slaves" 

"  Of  course,  that  fact  ought  not  to  be  passed  over, 
'Squire,  for  it  shows,  at  the  same  time  our  government  is 
incontrollable,  it  is  also  just." 


222  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

"  Why  was  this  large  sum  of  money — equivalent  to  one 
hundred  millions  of  dollars  in  our  currency  —  voted  by 
Parliament  to  the  planters,  Mr.  Darby?  Because  these 
slaves  were  property,  of  which  the  owners  could  not  be 
deprived  without  just  compensation.  This  settles  a  great 
principle — the  right  of  ownership  in  human  beings.  It  is 
recognized  by  the  highest  authority  in  your  country;  it  is 
respected  and  observed  in  this  colonial  Act  of  emancipation. 

uBut  do  the  Abolitionists  of  the  United  States  propose 
to  imitate  this  illustrious  example  ?  Has  it  ever  entered 
into  their  heads  that  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves  was 
to  be  followed  by  adequate  compensation  ?  Great  Britain, 
in  the  plenitude  of  her  power,  scorned  to  perpetrate  a 
wrong.  She  bowed  in  humble  submission  to  the  eternal 
principles  of  justice.  She  saw,  and  she  knew  this  act  of 
hers  was  destroying  vested  rights — rights  which  she  had 
legalized  and  sanctioned.  This  implies  an  injury,  a 
deep  injury  to  the  owners ;  then  comes  the  repara 
tion  —  the  twenty  millions  of  pounds,  freely  and  volun 
tarily  tendered. 

"  What  is  the  scheme  of  Abolitionism  in  this  country  ? 
Immediate  and  unconditional  emancipation.  It  is  boldly 
proclaimed  that  there  can  be  no  such  thing  as  property  in 
persons  —  that  one  human  being  has  no  right  to  hold 
another  in  bondage.  If  this  were  true,  England  might 
have  saved  her  gold." 

"  My  government,  after  all,  'Squire,  is  not  so  bad  a 
despotism  as  you  imagined.  We  have  a  constitutional 
monarchy.  All  the  estates  in  the  realm  are  represented 
in  Parliament,  and  without  their  concurrence  no  law  can 
be  enacted.  Public  liberty  is  thus  secured." 

"What  constitutes  public  liberty  in  England  I  shall 
not  stop  now  to  dispute.  I  have  stated  that  Great  Britain 
sought  to  make  reparation  for  the  damage  she  did  the 
planters,  but  the  act  has  been  more  destructive  in  its 
effects  than  could  have  possibly  been  anticipated.  Those 
islands  are  literally  ruined ;  and  how  has  it  been  done  ? 
By  destroying  their  productive  industry.  Take  Jamaica, 
for  example — her  exports  have  dwindled  down  to  nothing. 
Within  the  space  of  the  last  four  years,  here  is  an  authen 
tic  statement  of  what  has  happened  : 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  223 

"Within  that  brief  period  it  appeared,  that  no  less 
than  128  sugar  estates,  96  coffee  properties,  and  30  pens 
for  cattle-breeding  had  been  totally  abandoned ;  that  71 
sugar  estates,  66  coffee  properties,  and  22  pens  had  been 
partially  abandoned  ;  that  upward  of  390,000  acres  of 
land  had  either  been  thrown  out  of  cultivation  or  only 
cultivated  in  the  despairing  hope  of  better  times ;  that 
ratable  value  of  this  property  alone  had  sunk  from 
£98,000  to  £53,000;  and  to  complete  this  catalogue  of 
disasters,  it  had  been  announced  measures  were  in  pro 
gress  for  the  total  abandonment  of  many  more  estates. 

u  All  travelers  agree,  that  the  blacks  have  sunk  to  the 
lowest  depths  of  degradation.  Gov.  Wood  of  Ohio,  who 
visited  the  island  in  1853,  speaks  of  it  in  the  following 
terms : 

"  ;  Since  the  blacks  have  been  liberated,  they  have  be 
come  indolent,  degraded  and  dishonest.  They  are  a  rude, 
beastly  set  of  vagabonds,  lying  naked  about  the  streets — 
as  filthy  as  the  Hottentots,  and  I  believe  wrorse.'  So 
much  for  the  negroes,  and  now  for  the  appearance  of  the 
estates.  He  farther  says :  l  We  saw  many  plantations, 
the  buildings  dilapidated,  fields  of  sugar-cane  half-worked, 
and  apparently  poor,  and  nothing  but  that  which  will 
grow  without  the  labor  of  man,  appeared  luxuriant  and 
flourishing.  The  island  itself,  is  of  great  fertility,  one  of 
the  best  of  the  Antilles ;  but  all  the  large  estates  upon  it 
are  now  going  fast  to  ruin.'  What  has  entailed  upon 
that  once  flourishing  island  so  great  a  blight,  and  the 
total  overthrow  of  her  wealth  and  prosperity!  Was  there 
ever  so  sad  a  change  wrought  in  the  condition  of  any 
people  in  so  short  a  time,  and  that  too,  without  war,  pes 
tilence,  or  famine  ?  The  cause  is  obvious.  The  labor, 
the  source  of  agricultural  wealth,  has  been  annihilated. 
The  negroes,  instead  of  being  producers,  as  formerly,  are 
now  merely  consumers.  They  do  not  raise  more  than 
enough  to  satisfy  their  own  wants,  and  therefore,  there  is 
no  surplus  for  export.  This  transition  from  well-regu 
lated  and  productive  industry,  to  idleness  and  thievish- 
ness,  has  diminished  the  value  of  real  estate,  and  actually 
caused  its  abandonment,  and  that  too,  upon  a  very  fertile 


224  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

island,  adapted  to  the  raising  of  coffee  and  sugar,  not  to 
say  anything  about  cattle." 

a  I  ask,  in  all  seriousness,  if  any  obstacles  have  been 
thrown  in  the  way  to  destroy  the  value  of  this  experiment 
at  emancipation  ?  I  suppose  there  could  not  be  a  fairer 
test  of  the  capacity  of  the  Africans  for  the  enjoyment  of 
freedom,  than  that  afforded  in  Jamaica.  It  was  peaceably 
done;  the  planters  quietly  acquiesced  in  the  enactments 
of  the  home  government.  The  negroes  merged  from 
thraldom,  and  took  their  station  in  society  as  freemen. 
Seven  years  or  more,  have  revolved  since  that  auspicious 
period  to  them.  What  is  the  result  ?  '  All  the  large  es 
tates  upon  the  island  are  now  fast  going  to  ruin  ;'  and  the 
negroes  are  represented  c  as  a  set  of  beastly  vagabonds.' 
'  Worse  than  the  Hottentots.'  " 

"Would  not  the  same  consequences  flow  from  emancipa 
tion  in  the  United  States  ?  As  certainly  as  similar  causes 
will  produce  similar  effects.  An  experiment  here,  would 
most  assuredly  be  equally,  if  not  more  disastrous.  There 
is  decidedly  a  little  more  potency  in  British  Laws,  and 
more  glittering  bayonets  to  enforce  them.  Hence,  I  arrive 
at  the  conclusion,  that  emancipation  at  the  present  time, 
would  prove  equally  detrimental  to  the  whites  and 
blacks." 

u  I  am  not  disposed,  'Squire,  to  admit  any  such  thing. 
The  cause  is  not  emancipation  ;  but  it  arises  from  the  de 
moralizing  influence  of  Slavery — its  curse  follows  its  vic 
tims  for  years.  To  that  abominable  Institution  I  charge 
it  all." 

u  Your  remarks,  Mr.  Darby,  remind  me  of  an  incident 
in  Jewish  history.  Moses  had  enumerated  Bin-offerings 
for  every  conceivable  sin  individuals  could  commit.  But 
that  would  not  suffice.  Notwithstanding  these  numerous 
atonements  for  sin,  a  live  goat  had  to  be  brought  before 
Aaron,  who  laid  both  his  hands  upon  its  head,  and  con 
fessed  over  all  the  iniquities  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
all  their  transgressions  in  all  their  sins,  putting  them 
upon  the  head  of  the  goat.  He  was  then  sent  away  by 
the  hand  of  a  fit  man,  into  the  wilderness.  Though  ex 
tremely  ponderous  must  have  been  the  load  upon  the  head 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  225 

of  the  poor  goat,  yet  we  must  all  acknowledge  it  was  an 
excellent  contrivance  in  the  Jews  to  get  rid  of  their  ini 
quities  and  transgressions.  Precisely  so  it  is  with  many 
people  in  our  day ;  they  make  Slavery  the  scape-goat  for 
ail  the  sins  of  the  world.  If  we  point  to  Jamaica,  and, 
in  the  language  of  Bishop  Kip,  tell  them :  l  The  streets 
of  Kingston  are  crowded  with  the  most  wretched  looking 
negroes  to  be  seen  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  Lazy,  shift 
less,  and  diseased,  they  will  not  work  since  the  manu 
mission  act  has  freed  them.'  The  answer  is  at  hand — 
'  Slavery  is  to  blame  for  it  all.'  What  a  convenience  to 
have  such  a  scape-goat!" 

"But  why  hold  the  whites  responsible  for  the  incapa 
city  of  the  negroes  for  freedom!  Were  they  first  enslaved 
by  us?  Were  they  moral,  upright,  and  enlightened, 
when  they  were  introduced  into  our  continent  ?  Not  at 
all.  If,  by  their  association  with  us,  they  have  not  been 
made  better,  in  all  justice  it  ought  to  be  confessed,  we 
have  not  made  them  worse.  Who  will  dare  to  assert 
they  are  not  improved  in  morality  and  intelligence,  since 
they  were  transported  from  the  shores  of  Africa  ?  It 
must  necessarily  require  centuries  to  prepare  a  barbarian 
for  the  great  boon  of  freedom.  And,  until  he  is  thus 
fully  qualified,  it  is  worse  than  madness  to  turn  him 
loose. " 

"  I  will  be  allowed  to  say,  'Squire,  that  the  idea  of 
one  man  enslaving  another — treating  God's  images  as 
chattels,  is  becoming  more  abhorrent  to  the  enlightened 
sentiment  of  the  North  every  day.  My  Government  has 
proclaimed,  in  no  ambiguous  language,  that  she  goes  for 
the  Abolition  of  Slavery  throughout  the  world.  She  has 
boldly  assumed  that  laudable  position,  and  to  it  she  will 
faithfully  adhere." 

"  Does  that  announcement,  Mr.  Darby,  come  with  a 
good  grace  from  haughty,  imperious,  tyrannizing  Eng 
land  ?  She  to  stand  forth  as  the  great  champion,  advocate, 
and  defender  of  the  inalienable  rights  of  man!  Why, 
the  very  framework  of  her  government,  is  grades  in  so 
ciety.  She,  repudiating  at  home  the  equality  she  is  pa 
tronizing  abroad  1  Oh,  tell  it  not  in  Gath  ;  publish  it  not 
in  the  streets  of  Askelon." 


226  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"Why,  you  seem  always  to  have  the  Scriptures  at  the 
tip  end  of  your  tongue,  'Squire.  Am  I  to  understand 
you  as  questioning  the  sincerity  of  my  government  in  the 
noble  declaration  she  has  made  in  behalf  of  suffering  hu 
manity  ?  You  will  permit  me  to  state,  that  my  govern 
ment  is  too  exalted  and  honorable  to  resort  to  duplicity, 
and  I  don't  relish  your  reflections  with  a  very  kind  spirit" 

u  You  will  pardon  me  for  the  want  of  faith  in  English 
philanthropy,  Mr.  Darby,  when  I  come  to  assign  to  you 
the  reasons  which  create  this  incredulity.  The  faculty  of 
skepticism  is  very  strongly  developed  in  my  cranium.  I 
give  very  little  weight  to  naked,  empty  professions — the 
old  adage,  that  actions  speak  louder  than  words,  will 
always  keep  intruding  itself  upon  my  memory.  Many 
years  ago,  I  read  the  declaration  you  have  alluded  to, 
made  by  a  British  minister  to  the  American  Government. 
I  thought  it  l  sounding  brass,  and  a  tinkling  cymbal ' 
then — L  still  think  so. 

"  My  first  inquiry  was,  can  monarchy  really  love  and 
contend  for  increased  republican  equality  ?  Her  object  seems 
to  be  to  coerce  us  to  admit  the  slaves  to  be  elevated  to 
an  equality  with  us.  England  arrogates  to  herself  a 
greater  devotion  to  Liberty,  than  is  manifested  in  these 
United  States.  I  was  tempted  to  look  at  the  structure  of 
her  government;  there,  I  imagined,  I  should  find  an  ex 
emplification  of  the  great  doctrine — that  all  mankind  are 
created  equal.  The  first  thing  that  staggered  me,  was  a 
Queen,  arrayed  in  royal  robes,  proudly  sitting  upon  a 
throne,  surrounded  by  fawning  ministers,  and  cringing 
sycophants.  In  her  veins,  and  none  others,  the  royal 
blood  presumed  to  flow.  This,  I  considered  not  fully 
republicanism  ;  but  I  was  next  tempted  to  take  a  peep  at 
the  House  of  Lords.  Here  they  sat  Lords 'temporal,  and 
Lords  spiritual.  Very  well.  Now  I  will  see  how  they 
were  elected.  The  idea  of  constituents  came  into  my 
foolish  head.  I  found  out  they  were  Lords  by  patent  arid 
by  birth.  That  they  sat  in  parliament  by  hereditary 
right.  That  the  laws  of  the  empire  were  carefully  framed, 
so  as  to  keep  up  a  full  supply  of  Lords  for  the  whole 
kingdom — for  any  diminution  of  the  number  might 
weaken  monarchy,  and  bring  it  into  danger. 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  227 

"  I  again  wondered  how  came  these  lords  spiritual  to  be 
honored  with  such  elevated  seats  in  a  legislative  body.  I 
was  amazed  to  find  out  there  was  a  union  of  Church  and 
State,  for  the  purpose  of  mutual  strength.  When  I  came 
to  search  into  the  revenues  of  the  dignitaries  of  the 
Church,  instead  of  voluntary  contributions,  1  found  they 
were  supported  by  tithes  imposed  upon  the  industry  of 
the  country  by  law. 

"  I  could  but  see  in  all  these  arrangements  a  settled 
policy  to  build  up  and  sustain  aristocracy — that  it  all 
clashed  with  the  idea  of  men  being  born  equal.  I  came 
at  once  to  the  conclusion,  it  might  safely  be  filed  away 
with  all  the  abstractions  of  the  day.  I  gave  up  the  idea 
of  investigating  any  further  her  governmental  machinery. 
I  was  satisfied  it  would  not  do  to  scrutinize  her  at  home 
more  closely — if  good  fruits  she  had,  I  would  find  them 
growing  in  clusters  abroad. 

4 'Our  slaves,  it  is  but  too  true,  she  affects  tenderly  to 
love — she  has  liberally  donated  the  fugitives  a  portion  of 
her  public  domain  in  Canada — I  do  not  deny,  in  this 
respect,  her  unbounded  benevolence. 

"But  when  I  cast  my  eyes  to  the  East  Indies,  note  her 
loving-kindness  there — the  scene  is  greatly  altered.  I 
would  gladly  ask  the  oppressed  natives  how  they  admire 
British  philanthropy?" 

"  Do  you  mean  to  assert,  'Squire,  this  has  been  clone  by 
the  government  of  Great  Britain  ?  The  East  India  Com 
pany  has  subdued  those  countries." 

"  1  know  that  well,  Mr.  Darby;  but  I  will  not  under 
take  to  split  hairs  about  such  matters.  That  Company 
was  chartered  by  the  British  government  for  the  purpose 
of  conquering  and  annexing  those  countries  to  its  empire: 
and  it  has  been  done,  sustained  by  the  whole  power  and 
resources  of  the  nation.  In  such  a  case  as  that  I  will  not 
stop  to  discriminate  ;  it  is  sufficient  for  me  to  know,  under 
the  British  flag  the  enslavement  of  these  people  has  been 
achieved." 

u  How  can  you  call  it  '  enslavement?  'Squire  ?" 

u  Because  it  is  so  in  reality,  Mr.  Darby.  I  am  not 
governed  by  the  shadow,  but  by  the  substance.  Slavery 
does  not  exist  in  the  name  only,  but  in  the  reality.  That 


228  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

East  Indian  Company  has  amassed  immense  wealth.  The 
last  statement  I  have  seen  places  the  annual  income  at 
£-29,000,000  sterling.  Whence  is  this  vast  sum  derived  ? 
From  the  groans,  sweat,  and  tears  of  the  toiling  millions 
she  holds  there  under  absolute  sway.  It  is  wrought  out  of 
the  bones  and  sinews  of  the  160,000,000  natives  subject  to 
her  power.  Where  else  can  it  come  from  ?  God's  images, 
in  that  corner  of  the  world,  have  enlisted  no  particular  sym 
pathy,  either  from  England  or  the  United  States.  What 
claim  had  England  to  them  or  their  country?  They  were 
free  and  independent  nations,  with  government,  laws,  and 
institutions  of  their  own.  Why  should  she  go  there  and 
bring  them  under  subjection  to  the  crown  ?  Was  it  to  ben 
efit  the  natives,  or  her  own  emolument  or  aggrandizement  ? 
That  it  is  the  latter,  no  one  can  doubt.  The  slaves  of  the 
United  States — only  three  millions  in  number — have  en 
grossed  all  her  sympathy.  She  has  none  left  for  the  mil 
lions  oppressed  in  her  East  India  possessions.  How  was 
it  with  Esau  ?  While  he  was  out  hunting  his  venison, 
Jacob,  by  subtlety,  stole  his  blessing.  When  he  came  in, 
his  father  had  informed  him  of  what  had  taken  place, 
he  cried  with  a  great  and  exceeding  bitter  cry,  'Bless  me, 
even  me,  also,  O  my  father.'  And  when  he  inquired  if 
there  was  no  blessing  reserved  for  him,  Isaac  would  not 
revoke  what  had  been  done,  but  asked,  '  What  shall  I  do 
now  for  thee,  my  son  ?'  Thus  it  is  with  England,  she  has 
only  one  blessing,  and  that  she  has  bestowed  on  the  slaves 
of  the  United  States — she  holds  none  in  reserve  for  her 
own  suffering  millions.  In  vain  they  might  cry,  '  Bless 
us,  even  us,  O  mother  England!"' 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  229 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 

Conversation  Continued. 

"  I  CAN  but  feel  that  England  has  done  great  injustice 
in  the  East  Indies,"  repeated  the  'Squire  to  Mr.  Darby, 
"  by  the  overthrow  of  the  governments  of  the  country, 
and  substituting  in  their  place  her  own  arbitrary  authority. 
Charity  should  begin  at  home.  While  she  places  her 
leaden  heel  on  the  necks  of  those  people  in  the  East,  and 
is  crushing  them  to  the  earth,  I  cannot  refrain  from  being 
extremely  suspicious  of  her  designs,  so  far  as  my  own 
country  is  concerned.  I  am  constrained  to  believe  there 
is  some  covert  design.  What  think  you  of  that  social 
and  political  equality  which  form  the  basis  of  our  Repub 
lican  Institutions?  I  can  assure  yon  we  are  entirely  in 
competent  to  appreciate  and  enjoy  the  great  advantages 
of  monarchy.  We  would  not  know  how  to  cringe  and 
fawn  at  the  feet  of  royalty}'' 

"  That  is  true — very  true,  'Squire.  Permit  me  to  say, 
if  you  were  in  England,  you  could  not  take  the  liberty  of 
animadverting  upon  the  acts  of  our  government  as  you 
have  done.  You  have  alluded,  in  no  mild  terms,  to  our 
cruelties  in  the  East  Indies,  and  tyrannical  oppressions  at 
home.  Who  created  you  the  censor  general  of  the  world  ? 
A  high  prerogative  surely  !  You  have  elevated  your  head 
above  princes,  potentates,  and  powers,  and  deal  out  your 
anathemas  with  a  cruel  and  unfeeling  hand." 

"  I  lay  not  the  slightest  claim  to  any  such  office,  Mr. 
Darby.  England  has  made  herself  the  great  patron  of 
Abolitionism,  the  foster  father  of  this  abomination  upon 
earth.  She  has  openly  proclaimed  it — all  her  acts  are  in 
coincidence  with  such  a  purpose.  Has  not  our  country 
been  honored  by  the  presence  of  Thompson  and  others — 
her  especial  emissaries  sent  over  here  to  indoctrinate  us 
on  this  great  and  heaven-born  subject?  All  these  things 
indicate,  upon  her  part,  an  immense  love  for  the  negroes 
in  the  South — a  love  never  before  manifested  by  her  for 
any  race,  kindred,  or  tongue.  Now,  I  ask  you,  without 


AKOUTIONJHM    UNVEILED. 

>  arrogate  to  KBJfftlf  MIJ  particular  importance,  if 
tfltM  fiteU  and  otlCnmitenCM  an;  not  CftlcttUitod  to  prompt 
ut  to  investigate  her  policy  at  home  and  abroad  ?  Her 
acciiHation  JH,  thut  we,  an  a  nation,  arc  guilty  of  great  cruelty 
and  tyranny  over  the  African  race  among  UH.  That  *///? 
ehpoiiHes  their  flfiuMi  find  plcadtt  for  their  liberation.  Her 
declaration  implicH  thin,  if  it  ban  any  weaning  at  all. 

"How  ('tin  we  relinli  HUC!I  intcrfcrcnco  coining  from 
Itor'i  Hhe  Hold  the  mo«t  of  MM.  <  u-  ;'i«.«  •.  to  UH  in  tho 
'ut  iiihtunco — :  lit-  plii('e,d  id-  in  in  that  very  condition 
.-.  In-  I)  i-.ln-  DC  «-Mit-,  now  to  <i<-nl<»n- !  Wliut  great,  trarmitioni 
in  the  hintory  of  tlio  world!  l*'or  near  two  hundred  yeurii 
«lui  prOMCDtid  the  African  Slave  trade  with  the  inont  in- 
lc-,iih«'-  aHHiduity,  Hhe  had  MOUtnulfttod  COUntl6M  wealth 
from  thin  tralnc,  ere  the  ncalcH  hegan  to  fall  iroin  her  cyc.H. 
With  all  the  all'ection  of  a  inirtcr  nlic  hugH  thin  ill-gotten 
wealth  to  IP  i  I.-.  -.Hi  hut  with  all  the  humanity  poHnihlc, 
aim  (ionmiiitM  now  Uj  roecivo  thone  HUIVIM  creatuntn  into  her 
province  of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada,  in  their  imnrovcxl 
condition,  free  of  charge.  Huc.h  (li/ti'Hf.?,MHt,0<f  kinuntiati  irt 
not  -.ii-  n  witneHHod  in  tin  •  lh  l>  world  of  ourH. 

**  lint  while  Englftlld  hn-atheH  nothing  hut  beneficence 
and  philanthropy  in  thin  Wehtcrn  world,  in  the  Ktiftt  H!IO 
in  '  ni'ii ••  terrible  than  an  army  with  banner!,'  She  in 
hi-  Inn"  the  l.i  i  |"  mi1,  from  the  nativcH  of  the  IndicH.  1 
havo  recently  neen  it  Htatcd,  the  torture,  in  applied  to  make 
them  pay  their  taxen.  What  a  contrivance  to  force  out 
of  them  tho  l.i  i  farthing!  And  yet  thin  in  all  dignified 
an  frwilinii !  ThoiU  <l<  |i<  n(li ut  and  inoHeiiHive>  Kawt  Jn- 
diameii  iiw  h«-ld  to  be •  y/vr  /  What  a  charm  in  there  in 
the  men)  name. !  How  much  do  they  have  to  pay  for  thin 
empty  bubble  to  aliens  and  foreignerH  to  them — men  who 
luivu  (M»mo  thorn  to  deprive  them  of  their  undent  privi 
leged --in  Federal  currency  the  Hplendid  Bum  of  $1-15,- 
(KHHMM)  ncr  annum.  Thm  in  all  the  Kust  India  (Company 
charge  them  tor  their  paternal  care— -for  their  trouble  of 
governing  thoHc^  whom  they  have  OTUflly  ('oiujucrcd. 

tk  How  obvious  it  in,  therefore,  Kngland  18  moro  aatitl.ti 
in  Jfatiinff  people  than  wo  ever  have  been  or  can  bo." 

"Do  not  lluttor  yourHelf  too  much,  'Hquiro.  Your 
j';ovornment  liar*  dinpluytul  a  diwpobition  to  plunder  itJi 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  231 

neighbors.  Mexico,  if  brought  to  the  stand,  could  tell  a 
tale  not  very  creditable  to  your  national  character." 

uAh  !  indeed,  Mr.  Darby.  She  was  the  instigator  of 
the  war  —  she  fired  the  first  gun.  We  gave  her  a  severe 
chastisement  for  her  presumption,  and  made  her  foot  the 
bill,  as  we  had  a  light  to  do.  We  took  a  slice  of  her  ter 
ritory  as  indemnity.  England  docs  -not  whip  nations  at 
her  own  expense  either.  .Remember  the  Chinese  war. 
The  Celestials  refused  to  eat  any  more  of  her  opium,  and 
for  that  piece  of  rascality  England  made  war  upon  them. 
In  the  end,  she  only  charged  them  $20,000,000  for  the 
performance  of  this  job,  which  they  freely  paid  and 
thought  it  a  cheap  whipping  at  that. 

44  Wo  are  not  in  a  situation  to  whip  nations  for  nothing, 
any  more  than  England.  For  all  such  jobs  we  hold  our 
selves  entitled  to  full  pay.  In  this  respect  England  and 
the  United  States  are  alike. 

u  But  when  we  come  to  look  at  the  use  they  make  of 
their  respective  annexations,  the  difference  is  the  most 
striking.  We,  j>oor  silly  souls,  have  never  been  taught 
the  art  of  fleecing.  We  conquer  people  onl}T  to  make 
them  free — fighting  to  diffuse  liberty,  to  incorporate  them 
into  our  political  family  upon  an  equal  footing  in  all 
respects  with  ourselves.  Was  there  ever  such  a  curious 
spectacle  presented  ?  We  are  striving  to  spread  the  area 
of  freedom,  not  for  our  own  good,  but  for  the  exclusive 
benefit  of  others.  If  we  are  ambitious,  it  is  not  for  filthy 
lucre,  but  for  the  benefit  of  humanity. 

u  Our  mission  is  grand  and  noble.  In  all  our  annexa 
tions,  from  first  to  last,  we  have  been  guilty  of  no  injury 
to  any  one.  Where  is  the  complaint?  where  are  the 
niurmurings  that  come  up  from  the  people  incorporated  ? 
None  do  I  hear.  They  are  not  taxed  higher  than  our  own 
people  —  they  are  not  made  tributary  to  us,  but  suffered 
to  come  into  the  full  enjoyment  of  all  our  rights,  privi 
leges,  and  immunities. 

44  Can  the  same  be  said  of  England  ?  Not  by  any 
means.  She  extortions  upon  those  she  conquers.  She 
extracts  from  their  hard  earnings  all  the  wealth  she  can. 
It  is  made  to  flow  into  her  lap  to  increase  her  richea  and 
prosperity. 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

"  But  let  us  look  into  her  internal  regulations  to  pro 
mote  industry.  I  will  not  say  her  scheme  does  not  suc 
ceed,  but  I  will  venture  to  assert  it  is  very  oppressive — I 
mean  to  the  poor.  The  price  of  labor,  like  everything 
else,  ought  to  be  left  free  and  uncontrolled.  The  supply 
and  demand  will  be  sure  to  fix  the  proper  standard.  But 
this  principle,  so  salutary  in  all  the  operations  of  com 
merce,  could  not  satisfy  the  prudential  foresight  of  Eng 
land.  Hence  we  discover  at  an  early  period  in  her 
history  she  undertook  to  fix  the  rate  of  wages.  It  was 
first,  by  law,  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  magistrates ;  but 
this  created  so  much  complaint  that  the  Parliament,  in 
the  reign  of  Henry  VII,  nearly  three  hundred  years  ago, 
undertook  to  adjust  this  vexatious  question.  Now  look 
at  the  prices  settled  by  the  united  wisdom  of  that  great 
nation.  '  The  wages  of  a  tradesman,  such  as  a  mason, 
bricklayer,  tiler,  etc.,  should  be  regulated  at  near  ten- 
pence  a  day.'  Does  not  this  show  her  affectionate  kind 
ness  for  the  poor  ?  Near  tenpence  a  day  for  mechanics! 

UI  do  suppose  this  price  must  have  been  fixed  by  the 
nicest  arithmetical  calculation.  The  number  of  days  in 
a  year  being  set  down  at  365,  then  how  little  meat  and 
bread  can  a  man  subsist  upon  so  as  to  keep  him  in  good 
working  condition.  Those  astute  in  such  matters  can  tell 
to  the  smallest  fraction  the  needed  quantity.  Make  a 
small  additional  allowance  for  a  wife  and  a  few  children, 
then  the  sum  may  be  worked  out  to  a  punctilio.  Ten- 
pence  a  day  was  the  precise  sum  in  which  all  this  figuring 
resulted.  The  subsistence  point  was  thus  fully  discovered 
and  irrevocably  fixed." 

"  You  -will  not  deny,  'Squire,  that  England  has  adopted 
a  very  judicious  system  of  industry.  No  nation  can 
boast  of  greater  affluence  and  prosperity.  How  came 
this  to  be  so  ?" 

u  I  grant  all  that,  Mr.  Darby  ;  but  that  proves  nothing 
against  my  position.  The  few  are  wealthy — the  masses 
indigent.  And  why  ?  Because  their  wages  have  been 
fixed  and  retained  for  ages  at  the  bare  subsistence  point. 
It  is  not  only  so  at  home,  but  in  the  East  Indies.  The 
wages  there  vary  from  five  to  seven  cents  per  day — a  very 
scant  allowance — all  made  over  that  finds  its  way  into  the 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  233 

coffers  of  the  East  India  Company.  The  laborers,  it  will 
be  seen,  are  allowed,  out  of  their  hard  earnings,  barely 
enough  to  keep  them  alive ;  but  they  are  not  always  that 
fortunate,  for,  if  my  memory  be  correct,  about  60,000  of 
the  natives,  some  years  ago,  perished  of  actual  starvation. 
What  goes  with  the  overplus  made  by  their  industry? 
That  is  grasped  by  their  taskmasters  and  oppressors. 

"  How  can  human  beings  work  for  less?  To  enable 
them  to  undergo  fatigue  and  exertion,  nourishment  they 
must  have.  Wages,  therefore,  can  never  fall  below  the 
subsistence  point  without  the  sacrifice  of  life.  What 
think  you  of  so  sad  a  picture  ?  Why  shed  tears  over  the 
slaves  of  the  United  States  ?  As  to  comforts  of  life,  they 
have  them  in  greater  abundance  than  your  peasantry.  In 
their  masters  they  have  friends  and  projectors. 

u  Your  poor  cannot  boast  of  as  much.  From  age  to 
age  poverty  has  been  their  inheritance.  The  most  con 
stant  and  assiduous  industry,  during  the  longest  life,  can 
make  no  accumulations  to  meet  the  contingencies  and  the 
infirmities  of  old  age.  Not  a  ray  of  hope  is  permitted 
to  illuminate  their  pathway ;  the  great  struggle  with 
them  is  not  for  independence,  but  for  a  mere  living. 
Thus  millions  have  passed  through  time,  without  any 
higher  aspirations,  to  the  great  ocean  of  eternity." 

"  Well,  'Squire,  I  must  confess,  you  manifest  strong 
hostility  to  England.  I  must  be  allowed  to  observe,  if 
you  were  to  visit  our  country  you  would  not  be  greeted 
with  a  very  hearty  welcome.  You  may  have  a  little  love 
for  your  own  country — even  that  is  questionable — but  for 
other  nations  you  have  no  regard.  You  have  an  unusual 
share  of  misanthropy  in  your  composition." 

"  I  may  have  the  spirit  of  retaliation  burning  too 
strongly  in  my  breast,  Mr.  Darby.  I  may  be  following  too 
closely  Moses'  Law,  4  an  eye  for  an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a 
tooth ;'  that  may  be  possible,  but  I  cannot  forget  England 
has  disclosed  herself  as  the  peculiar  friend  of  the  negro — 
as  an  advocate  of  their  inalienable  rights,  so  much  harped 
upon  by  a  very  dangerous  Party  in  our  midst.  This  cir 
cumstance,  with  others,  has  induced  me  to  scrutinize  her 
domestic  policy,  the  structure  of  her  government,  and 
the  propriety  of  her  laws.  I  hold  her  a  voluntary  and 
20 


234  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

officious  meddler  in  our  national  affairs,  and  as  such,  I 
have  not  been  disposed  to  show  her  a  great  deal  of  respect 
or  mercy. 

u  Whenever  a  book  is  published  derogatory  to  the 
South,  'she  rolls  it  as  a  sweet  morsel  under  her  tongue.' 
The  Duchess  of  Sutherland  can  take  a  delight  in  setting 
apart  a  room  arid  furnishing  it  in  oriental  style  for  the 
especial  accommodation  of  one,  whose  work  had  a  ten 
dency  to  lower  the  dignity  of  her  country  and  tarnish  its 
fair  i'ame.  Spotless  and  pure  we  are  not  —  evils  there 
must  be  in  all  systems  of  government ;  but  in  the  aggre 
gate,  ours  surely  approximates  nearer  to  perfection  than 
any  other  whatever.  With  my  republican  notions  I 
can  assure  you,  I  would  make  an  awkward  companion 
for  dukes,  duchesses,  queens,  and  lords.  It  would  be 
difficult  to  induce  me  to  believe  that  there  is  nobility  in 
the  blood.  All  such  notions  have  been  exploded  in  our 
country.  We  cannot  concede  birtJi  gives  merit,  but  we 
open  the  road  to  honors  and  distinctions  to  all  alike — to 
the  low  as  well  as  to  the  high-born.  Kings,  queens,  and 
nobility,  by  birth,  we  know  not.  We  are  masters  of  our 
selves  here  —  free  in  thought,  speech  and  religion.  The 
government  was  moulded  and  fashioned  according  to  our 
deliberate  will — we  are  esteemed  the  fountain  of  power, 
the  sovereigns  of  the  land." 

u  And  great  sovereigns  you  are,  upon  my  word,  'Squire. 
Mobocracy  would  be  a  more  appropriate  name  for  such  a 

fovernrnent.  Infinitely  better  for  you  all  if  you  had  a 
ing  to  rule  you  with  absolute  sway.  Monarchy,  at  last, 
is  the  only  form  of  government  that  can  restrain  the  tur 
bulence  of  men's  dispositions.  All  republics  have  been 
8hort-lived,  and  yours  is  approaching  a  catastrophe. 
Your  nation  is  split  up  into  many  factions,  and  your  gov 
ernment  is  a  perfectly  impracticable  machine." 

u  Perhaps  you  may  think  so,  Mr.  Darby ;  but  there 
has  been,  and  I  hope  it  will  continue,  a  conservatism  in 
the  great  body  of  the  people,  sufficient  for  all  the  emer 
gencies  through  which  our  nation  has  passed.  It  has 
preserved  us  from  harm  hitherto,  and  the  same  wise 
councils  may  yet  prevail.  This  turbulent  democracy — if 
it  may  be  so  termed — is  greatly  preferable  to  the  noiseless 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  235 

waves  of  crushing  tyranny.  Yours  is  the  stillness  of 
death— death  to  genius,  to  merit,  to  sterling  worth. 

u  The  great  Author  of  our  being  has  distributed  with 
out  discrimination  the  gems  of  talent  among  the  children 
of  men.  Though  the  riches  and  honors  of  this  world 
may  be  limited  to  a  few,  only  one  in  England  can  be 
queen,  at  a  time,  and  a  comparatively  few  lords  ;  yet 
there  are  gems,  splendid  intellectual  gems,  in  the  lower 
walks  of  life,  '  born  to  blush  unseen,  and  waste  their 
sweetness  on  the  desert  air.' 

u  The  greatest  statesmen,  jurists,  and  generals  of  which 
our  nation  can  boast,  emerged  from  an  humble  sphere. 
Each  one,  with  us,  has  to  be  the  artificer  of  his  own 
fortune  and  fame.  Parentage  or  blood  is  not  greatly 
respected  in  the  absence  of  intellectual  worth.  This  is 
as  it  should  be.  The  presidential  chair,  high  and  exalted 
as  it  is,  dazzling  with  gorgeous  splendor,  does  not  belong 
to  any  particular  family,  or  descend  from  father  to  son  or 
daughter;  but  it  is  a  prize  to  be  won  by  a  native  born 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  whose  civil  qualifications 
enable  him  to  discharge  its  various,  extensive,  and 
responsible  duties." 

"One  must  have  the  patience  of  Job — -pardon  my  allu 
sion  to  Scripture,  with  which  you  are  jammed  full — to 
listen  to  your  tirade  of  abuse  against  my  country,  'Squire. 
You  will  excuse  me  for  observing  that,  if  the  South  ques 
tions  the  sincerity  of  England's  declaration,  there  are 
thousands  in  your  own  country  who  will,  and  do,  cheer 
fully  co-operate  with  her  in  the  laudable  work  of  philan 
thropy.  We  have  friends  here  —  warm  and  devoted  — 
who  will  not  cease  the  good  work  until  Slavery  is  driven 
from  the  land." 

uDo  not  deceive  yourself,  Mr.  Darby.  England  may 
\\ELVQfriends  in  our  midst — this  I  am  not  inclined  to  dis 
pute—but  as  to  the  South,  she  is  competent  to  settle  all 
questions  affecting  her  interest.  The  bell  sounds.  We 
are  at  the  Depot  in  Cincinnati." 


236  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 


At  the  Dennison  House — Conversation  on  the  value  of  the  Union  in 
reference  to  Cincinnati  and  the  West. 

"WELL,  David,"  said  the  'Squire,  "we  are  now  seated 
in  this  elevated,  airy,  and  comfortable  room,  having  an 
extensive  view  of  this  prosperous  city,  and  my  mind  has 
been  involuntarily  led  to  the  contemplation  of  the  im 
mense  value  of  the  Union,  more  particularly  to  the  great 
West,  and  her  proud  cities." 

UI  think,  uncle,  it  will  be  well  enough  not  to  omit  the 
consideration  of  the  Union,  in  this  particular  aspect :  our 
remarks  hitherto  in  relation  to  it,  have  been  of  a  general 
character ;  and  the  West  stands  in  a  peculiar  attitude  to 
the  South,  which  demands  special  notice." 

u  To-morrow,  David,  without  an  accident,  I  hope  we 
will  be  tenants  of  my  humble  mansion  in  Boone.  We 
have  traversed  the  great  State  of  Ohio,  mingled  with  a 
certain  class  of  her  population,  and  I  am  unwilling  to 
depart,  without  some  qualifications,  to  much  that  has 
been  written.  More  than  thirty  long  and  tedious  years 
have  elapsed  since  I  have  resided  near  this  Queen  City. 
With  her  people  I  have  been  more  or  less  acquainted 
for  that  period  of  time." 

"  I  can  say,  uncle,  this  city  bears  a  very  bad  reputation 
South ;  she  is  considered  the  focus  of  Abolitionism,  and 
a  great  disturber  of  the  harmony  of  the  Union." 

"  I  admit,  David,  she  has,  in  her  bosom,  some  rabid 
Abolitionists,  who  spurn  the  law  and  the  Constitution  of 
the  country.  They  profess  to  be  the  devotees  of  a  higher 
law — a  law  overriding  the  Bible,  as  well  as  everything 
human." 

"  Now,  uncle,  ought  we  not  to  hold  the  people  of  this 
city  responsible  for  this  wicked  and  pernicious  fanaticism  ? 
ought  they  not  to  extirpate  it?" 

"  It  would  seem,  David,  they  ought  to  use  every  reason 
able  effort  for  that  purpose  ;  but  this  is  a  species  of  fanati- 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  237 

cism  the  most  incorrigible  in  the  world.  Men  know  not 
how  to  approach  it,  or  in  what  way  to  arrest  it." 

ki  I  must  confess,  uncle,  it  is  a  very  subtle  enemy.  We 
have,  in  our  peregrinations,  felt  its  dire  vengeance,  and 
you  have  labored  hard  and  earnestly  to  bring  it  to  right 
reason." 

uAnd  yet,  David,  I  should  not  be  astonished  if  my 
labor  were  all  in  vain.  Abolitionism  will,  notwithstand 
ing,  grow  in  her  proportions,  and  become  more  ominous 
to  the  peace  and  harmony  of  the  country." 

"  Perhaps  that  may  be  so,  uncle ;  but  if  that  wicked 
spirit  is  to  be  crushed  out,  it  must  be  done  by  the  people 
in  the  Free  States :  for  we  have  no  influence  over  it." 

"  That,  David,  I  will  not  undertake  to  controvert.  I 
will  only  say,  I  know  the  people  of  this  city  well, — her 
merchants,  artists,  and  men  of  property — and  I  feel  safe 
in  saying,  a  great  majority  of  them  are  opposed  to  the 
everlasting  turmoil  on  the  subject  of  Slavery.  They  are 
willing,  for  the  laws  of  the  Union  to  be  executed  without 
impediment." 

u  I  have  seen  it,  uncle,  repeatedly  stated,  that  it  was 
attended  with  serious  and  great  difficulty,  even  if  arrested, 
to  get  a  fugitive  slave  out  of  this  city." 

u  If  a  slave,  David,  should  be  apprehended  here,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  the  Abolitionists  will  stir  up  an  im 
mense  excitement  about  it;  but  it  does  not  extend  beyond 
that  faction — really  insignificant  in  number,  yet  capable 
of  achieving  great  mischief." 

u  However,  uncle,  I  suppose  the  use  of  the  Under 
ground  Railroad  enables  the  Abolitionists  to  run  off  fugi 
tive  slaves  with  so  much  rapidity,  that  the  most  of  the 
owner's  rights  are  destroyed  in  that  way." 

"  Yes,  David,  the  greatest  uncertainty  is,  in  finding 
them.  These  enemies  to  the  South  have  such  excellent 
contrivances  now  to  carry  on  their  nefarious  opera 
tions,  that  they  but  too  seldom  meet  with  detection  and 
exposure." 

uln  this  way,  uncle,  the  South  is  continually  injured 
and  irritated,  and  the  bonds  of  this  Union  weakened.' ' 

"  Yes,  David,  a  few  madcaps  are  thus  creating  bitter 
feelings,  where  the  most  cordial  friendship  ought  to 


238  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

prevail.  The  locality  of  the  West  and  South  forbids  the 
idea  of  a  separation." 

u  Indeed,  uncle,  those  whom  God  has  joined  together, 
palsied  may  be  the  hand  that  would  try  to  produce 
alienation  and  separation." 

"That  the  great  Builder  of  the  universe,  David,  in 
tended  the  West  and  South  to  be  one  and  indissoluble,  is 
written  in  characters  too  legible  to  be  misunderstood. 
The  great  rivers  that  penetrate  these  vast  fertile  valleys, 
all  flow  into  one  common  stream,  that  empties  its  vast 
volume  of  water  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  ;  so  tremendous 
is  its  rush  to  the  sea,  that  the  sensitive  nerves  of  old  ocean 
vibrate  to  the  remote  shores  of  Newfoundland." 

"I  would  ask,  uncle,  how  could  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois, 
nay,  this  whole  western  "valley,  do  without  the  South  ? 
To  my  poor  comprehension,  their  interest  is  one  and 
identical.  Neither  can  do  without  the  other." 

u  What  an  absurdity,  David,  to  suppose  this  Union  can 
be  split  in  twain,  and  two  rival  and  hostile  governments 
be  reared  upon  its  ruins !  Those  whose  madness  have 
reached  to  that  point,  should  ask  themselves,  in  all  seri 
ousness,  where  shall  the  dividing  line  be  run  ?  Let  them 
take  the  chain  and  compass  and  define  the  boundaries 
between  the  North  and  South." 

"  I  guess,  uncle,  that  would  be  rather  a  puzzling  btisi- 
ness.  Make  the  Ohio  the  line,  and  what  a  spectacle  would 
soon  be  presented !  Here  is  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  two 
bright  stars  in  our  political  firmament,  and  floating  lov 
ingly  upon  the  same  silken  flag — two  sisters  in  this  great 
confederacy  of  States.  Make  them  enemies  to  each 
other,  how  sadly  would  the  scene  be  changed  !  In  New 
port  and  Covington  ere-long,  massive  forts  would  rear 
their  defiant  heads,  all  bristling  with  cannon,  while  on 
this  side,  they  would  be  confronted  by  similar  works.  In 
case  of  war,  these  cities,  at  this  time  mutually  flourishing, 
would  lay  each  other  in  ashes." 

"  To  carry  the  imagination  forward  to  such  an  event, 
David,  we  can  see  but  a  faint  outline  of  the  misery  and 
ruin  disunion  would  entail.  How  strongly  should  all  be 
admonished  to  cling  with  fresh  and  renewed  ardor  to  this 
Ark  of  our  political  safety." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  239 

"  Indeed,  uncle,  we  ought  to  discountenance,  in  the 
language  of  WASHINGTON'S  Farewell  Address,  l  whatever 
would  suggest  a  suspicion,  that  it  can,  in  any  event  be 
abandoned  ;'  and  speak  of  it  as  the  Palladium  of  '  our 
political  safety  and  prosperity.' ;: 

"  It  is  too  plain,  David,  to  my  humble  conception,  that 
we  do  not  properly  estimate  the  immense  value  of  our 
National  Union.  I  have  been  thinking  over  this  city — 
this  State — whence  their  great  prosperity?  Cincinnati 
has  spread  over,  and  filled  up  this  bottom  since  I  came 
West.  The  hills  are  pressing  on  her  giant  limbs,  until 
she  is  uttering  groans  for  room  to  expand." 

';I  must,  uncle,  claim  a  little  credit  for  the  South  in 
helping  to  elevate  her  to  her  queenly  condition.  The 
spires  of  her  numerous  gorgeous  churches  penetrate  the 
clouds  ;  and  her  thousands  of  lofty  chimneys  empty  their 
dark  and  curling  smoke,  where  it  lies  in  deep  sullenness 
upon  the  feeble  atmosphere.  Her  furnaces,  too,  with 
blazing  fury,  pour  out  a  cloud  of  darkness,  that  hovers 
over  the  face  of  this  youthful  queen,  like  a  black  veil." 

u  From  the  window  where  we  sit,  David,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  rarity  and  stillness  of  the  atmosphere,  the 
city  presents  a  sombre  appearance. — But  our  inquiry  is, 
What  has  given  her  this  pre-eminence  in  the  West? 
Living,  as  I  have  done  these  many  years,  on  the  Ohio 
river,  I  can  form  some  idea  of  the  immense  commerce  she 
has  enjoyed  with  the  South.  Well  may  her  manufactur 
ing  industry  flourish,  her  enterprise  and  energy  meet  with 
due  encouragement,  while  she  participates  in  a  free  and 
unrestricted  trade  with  the  whole  South.  This  is  as  it 
should  be.  I  rejoice  in  her  growth  and  prosperity  where 
it  results  from  fair  and  legitimate  commerce." 

u  So  do  I,  uncle,  we  want  in  the  South  her  manufac 
tured  articles,  her  flour,  whisky,  and  provisions ;  and  in 
exchange,  she  gladly  takes  our  cotton,  sugar  or  rice.  The 
exchange  of  commodities  thus  enriches  both  parties." 

"  How  important,  therefore,  it  is,  David,  that  the  best 
of  feelings  should  exist  on  both  sides.  Commercial  inter 
course,  the  more  it  is  encouraged,  must  tend  to  harmonize 
the  two  sections.  We  know  and  understand  each  other 
better.  Were  I  less  acquainted  with  these  people,  I  might 


240  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

revile  and  denounce  them  all  as  enemies  and  traitors  to 
the  South  ;  but  knowing  them  as  I  do,  and  have  done  for 
many  years,  I  ought,  and  must,  make  a  discrimination. 
Let  us  by  no  means,  confound  the  innocent  with  the 
guilty.  The  Union  has  friends,  strong  and  faithful,  in 
this  very  city,.  Those  we  should  encourage  and  strengthen 
in  the  good  work." 

"  That  is  all  right,  uncle,  we  ought  not  to  include  all 
these  people  in  one  sweeping  denunciation,  especially  if 
a  large  portion  of  them  is  manfully  contending  for  the 
faithful  observance  of  the  Federal  Compact." 

ki>I  can  tell  you,  David,  this  Higher  Law  party  here,  is 
but  a  fraction  of  the  population.  They  are  artful  and 
designing,  and  can  make  a  terrific  outcry." 

"  They  must,  uncle,  contrive  some  way  or  other,  to 
give  themselves  great  prominence.  They  have  exasper 
ated  the  South  by  their  'outside  interference,'  to  a  danger 
ous  degree." 

"  So  they  have,  David,  and  their  conduct  is  all  the  time 
producing  border  difficulties  greatly  to  be  deplored.  Why 
should  it  be  so  ?  Kentucky  has  adopted  Slavery,  as  she 
had  a  right  to  do,  and  has  aimed  to  guard  and  protect 
her  citizens  in  the  possession  of  that  species  of  property, 
by  severe  legislative  enactments ;  because  it  would  be 
perfectly  ridiculous  for  a  State  to  confer  legal  rights, 
without  at  the  same  time,  enacting  the  necessary  Laws  to 
enforce  their  observance." 

44  Your  penal  statutes,  uncle,  ought  to  be  a  sufficient 
warning  to  all  persons  to  abstain  from  tampering  with 
Slaves." 

"  They  ought  to  be,  David,  but  they  have  proved  in 
sufficient  to  prevent  this  great  evil.  You  know  I  am  fond 
of  walking  alone  of  a  night,  indulging  in  the  serious  con 
templation  of  the  wondrous  works  of  the  Universe. 
Upon  one  of  those  occasions,  while  the  moon  diffused  her 
mild  rays  upon  this  earth,  and  the  stars  shone  with  un 
usual  brilliancy,  I  chanced  to  espy  JIM  CROW,  wending 
his  way  to  a  negro  cabin,  which  he  entered,  and  closed 
the  door.  I  was  tempted  to  draw  near,  and  place  my  ear 
within  hearing  distance.  He  thus  commenced  : 

4  '  Well,  Sam,  I  thought  I  would  just  drop  in  to-night. 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  24:1 

You  have  a  warm,  comfortable  room,  good  bedding,  a 
wife,  and  four  pretty  children ;  but  still  you  lack  one 
thing  to  make  you  happy.' 

u'k  Pray,  mist'r,'  replied  Sam,  c  what  can  that  be  ?' 

"  '  It  is  only,  freedom? 

"  £  Shere,  man,  how  can  I  get  dat  ?  You  know,  mast'r 
aint  gwine  to  let  dis  nigger  go.' 

"  '  Oh,  Sam,  we  care  mighty  little  whether  he  wants 
you  to  go  or  not.  We  don't  consult  his  feelings  about 
it  at  all.' 

"  '  Den  how  does  you  do,  Mist'r  Crow  ?' 

"  '  That,  I  will  tell  you,  Sam,  at  the  proper  time — all 
you  have  first  to  say,  are  you  disposed  to  leave  ?' 

u  '  I  tells  you,  Mist'r  Crow,  dat  be  a  mighty  hard  ques 
tion.  Dere  is  many  t'ings  to  be  t'ot  on,  when  we  talks 
about  such  t'ings.  S'pose  I  start,  and  be  ketch,  den  you 
know  what  follows — dis  nigger  has  to  be  sent  off.' 

"  '  Don't  fear  that,  Sam,  we  are  your  friends,  and  do 
not  intend  to  worst  your  condition.  If  you  will  place 
yourselves  in  our  care,  we  will  go  security,  you  will  not 
be  caught.' 

"  '  Now,  does  you  say  dat,  Mist'r  Crow ;  you  knows  I 
am  well  sitiwated  now.  My  mast'r  is  kine  enuff — I 
works  no  harder  dan  he  does.  We  gets  along  mi'ty  well 
togeder.  He  gis  us  plenty  to  eat,  an'  you  sees  he  gis  us 
a  good  house  to  lib  in.  An'  we  has  a  kine  missis  too. 
What  more  den,  does  we  want?' 

"  4  There  is  one  thing  lacking,  Sam,  and  that  is,  to  be 
free.  To  get  that,  you  have  only  to  say,  you  are  willing — 
that's  all  you  have  to  do.' 

"'Hush,  Mist'r  Crow,  don't  fool  dis  nigger  —  mast'r 
won't  be  slow  hunting  up  dis  Sam,  his  wife,  an'  leetle 
ones,  if  dey  be  gone.  I  knows  him,  an'  he  arn't  a-gwine 
to  let  us  get  off  so  berry  easy.' 

" ;  I  don't  care,  Sam,  how  quick  he  is,  he  can't  catch 
you  on  our  '  underground  railroad.'  That  does  business 
rather  too  rapidly  to  be  overtaken.' 

"  4  Dere  it  is,  Mist'r  Crow — what  sort  ob  a  darn  t'ing 
is  dat,  as  what  runs  under  de  ground.' 

u  '  Never  mind  that  at  present,  Sam,  just  say  you  will 
all  come  at  a  certain  time,  our  Director  will  furnish  yon 
21 


24:2  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

with  through-tickets,  and  before  you  can  say  Jack  Robin 
son,  you'll  all  be  snugly  landed  in  Canada.' 

"  4  Dere,  aint  dat  curis,  Mist'r  Crow,  but  s'pose  our  ole 
boss  cums  'pon  us  'fore  we  gets  in  dat  dark  'ole,  what  den  ?' 

"  '  Oh,  we  will  hide  you,  Sam,  too  nicely  for  that;  but 
we  furnish  another  sort  of  a  passport,  that  seldom  fails — 
(draws  a  revolver)  don't  you  see  this  lovely  instrument? 
That  is  yours,  if  you  consent  to  go.' 

"  '  La  !  what  a  nice  lookin'  t'ing  dis  is,  Mist'r  Crow — 
how  does  you  work  him  to  make  him  talk  loud — dere  be 
six  leetle  holes  in  dis  t'ing — how  can  you  make  each  on 
'em  do  his  part?' 

"  '  All  you  have  to  do,  Sam,  is  to  keep  pulling  the 
trigger,  and  it  will  keep  working  around,  until  the  six 
loads  are  discharged.' 

"  l  "What  a  curis  t'ing  dis  is,  'pon  my  word.  Does  you 
say,  de  white  man  will  stand  back,  when  he  sees  dis 
feeful  instrument  ?  Does  you  say  it's  mine,  if  we'll  'gree 
to  go  V 

"  '  Yes,  Sam,  it's  yours,  if  you'll  say  3rou'll  come.' 

"  '  Dere,  Mist'r  Crow,  you  temp'  dis  nigger  too  much.' 

"  '  Now,  Peggy,  my  wife,  what  say  you  to  gwine  wid 
our  children  ?' 

"  4  Oh,  Sam  you're  crazy,  you  know  we're  comfortably 
fixed  now — has  good  homes  where  we  may  live  our  life 
time  ;  but  if  we  try  to  get  off  and  fail — t'ink  of  dat. 
What  would  become  of  us !' 

"  '  But  you  know,  Peggy,  Mist'r  Crow  aint  gwine  to 
lie  'bout  sich  t'ings,  and  he  says,  dere  aint  no  danger.' 

"  '  Alas !  I  wish  Mist'r  Crow  had  staid  at  home,  and 
mind  his  own  business — not  to  come  to  dis  cabin,  to  put 
sich  bad  noshens  in  dat  head  ob  your'n.' 

"  '  Fear  not'in,  Peggy,  all  well  kum  out  rite.' 

"  «  Why,  Sam,  does  you  inten'  to  hazar'  all  de  blessin's 
we  enjoys,  for  dis  unsartin  business  ?' 

"  '  I  mus'  confess,  Peggy,  new  t'ots  has  bin  put  in  my 
poor  head.  I  begins  to  sigh  for  dat  strange  land.' 

"  l  Mis'ry,  mis'ry,  Sam;  if  we  starts,  I  feels  a  kin'  of 
bodin'  we'll  be  brought  back,  an'  den  we'll  be  undone.' 

11 '  Oh,  Peggy,  you  conjer  up  so  many  bogobows— dey 
won't  fin'  us,  and  den  how  kin  dey  catch  us  ?' 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  24:3 

"  '  Don't  b'lieve  eberyt'ing,  Sam;  you  knows  not  what 
may  happen.  We  may  be  obertaken,  an'  be  bro't  back. 
Oh,  how  awful  de  very  t'ot.  I'm  so  easily  frightened,  an' 
den  I  don't  know  what  I  might  do.  To  be  sent  to  de 
Souf,  de  berry  noshen  nearly  kills  me.  All  dese  t'ings, 
dear  husband,'  if  we  should  be  taken,  will  rush  upon  me 
at  once  ;  I  shall  become  de'perate,  and  what  I  may  be 
tem'ted  to  do,  God  only  knows.' 

"  '  Don't  t'ink  ob  dem  t'ings,  Peggy — dey  cotch  us— 
all  but  dat ;  when  we  gets  into  dat  dark  'ole,  as  what 
leads  to  Candy,  dey'll  no  see  us  any  more.' 

"  c  If  I  goes,  God  knows,  Sam,  it  will  be  with  a  trem- 
blin'  heart — 1  sees  woe  a-plenty  a-head,  but  I  will  foller 
you  de  world  ober — if  go  you  will.' 

"  c  Den,  Mist'r  Crow,  we'll  be  in  de  City  next  Sunday 
night.' 

"  4  God  bless  you,  Sam,  be  as  early  as  possible ;  we  will 
be  prepared  to  give  you  dispatch.' 

lk  The  conversation  having  ended,  I  resumed  my  medi 
tations." 

"  Well,  uncle,  let  us  have  the  sequel  of  the  story !" 

"  On  the  very  Sunday  night  mentioned,  Sam,  wife,  and 
children,  with  the  master's  horses  and  sleigh,  departed  to 
this  city ;  crossing  the  river  upon  the  ice,  they  arrived  at  old 
Joe  Kite's  about  the  dawn  of  day,  too  late,  as  luck  would 
have  it,  for  underground  railroad  operations.  Therefore, 
they  had  to  remain  in  the  safe-keeping  of  their  good  old 
friend,  Joe,  for  the  day." 

"  Did  not  the  owner  pursue,  uncle  ?" 

"  Yes,  he  was  on  the  trail  bright  and  early  in  the 
morning— and  soon  tracked  them  to  their  den.  He  then 
got  out  a  warrant  from  Commissioner  Pendery,  placed  it 
in  the  hands  of  a  United  States'  Marshal,  who,  accom 
panied  by  a  posse,  went  to  old  Joe's,  to  arrest  the  fugitive 
slaves.  The  party  entered,  after  bursting  open  the  door — 
Sam,  relying  upon  his  revolver,  discharged  it  two  or 
three  times,  until  it  was  wrested  from  his  hands  by  ono 
of  the  Deputy  Marshals,  who  was  slightly  wounded.  The 
mother  in  the  meantime,  in  a  fit  of  desperation,  had  cut 
the  throat  of  one  of  her  children,  and  wounded  two 
others." 


24:4:  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"  What  a  horrible  affair,  uncle ;  ought  not  Abolition 
ism  to  be  the  more  detested,  for  placing  those  poor,  un 
suspecting  creatures  in  so  dangerous  a  position  ?  Had 
they  let  them  alone,  this  would  not  have  happened.'' 

"  If  our  Slaves,  David,  were  voluntarily  to  elope,  with 
out  any  '  outside  interference,'  and  then  commit  such  tra 
gedies,  we  would  have  no  right  to  censure  others  for  it. 
.But  it  seems  to  me,  where  great  persuasion  is  used  to  in 
duce  slaves  to  abscond,  under  the  assurance  of  a  perfect 
immunity  from  apprehension,  the  party  bringing  about 
this  change,  in  all  justice,  ought  to  be  answerable  for  the 
consequences  that  ensue." 

"  I  do  suppose,  uncle,  if  Sam,  Peggy,  and  children, 
had  remained  contentedly  at  home,  this  tragedy  would 
not  have  happened.  Upon  whose  hands  shall  the  blood 
be  fastened  ? — that  is  the  grand  inquiry." 

"  To  decide  that  question  fairly,  David,  let  us  consider 
the  respective  parties  engaged  :  First,  the  owner.  What 
did  he  do  to  bring  about  this  fearful  result  ?  Did  he,  in 
any  particular,  transcend  the  law,  either  of  his  State,  or 
the  Union  ?  It  is  not  pretended  he  did.  He  pursued  his 
absconding  slaves,  as  he  had  a  legal  right  to  do,  into  the 
State  of  Ohio.  There,  out  of  a  pure  reverence  for  the 
law,  he  adopts  legal  steps  for  the  recovery  of  his  slaves. 
They  go  to  arrest  them  by  the  highest  and  most  sacred 
legal  authority,  bringing  to  their  aid  sufficient  force  to 
accomplish  the  object,  and  no  more.  If  the  mother,  under 
those  circumstances,  thought  proper  to  commit  the  un 
natural  deed  of  sacrificing  the  life  of  her  child,  surely  he 
stands  guiltless  of  the  deed.  It  was  not  his  will  or 
wish." 

"  That,  uncle,  is  evidently  a  legitimate  conclusion.  To 
arraign  the  owner  for  what  may  happen,  is  equivalent  to 
cutting  off  his  claim  altogether.  If  the  Slaves  escape, 
he  is  legally  empowered  to  pursue  and  recapture." 

"  That  is  true  enough,  David,  but  let  us  see  how  the 
account  in  the  next  place,  stands  with  Abolitionism.  If 
I  might  personify  her,  I  would  say,  stand  up  thou  at  the 
bar  of  public  opinion,  and  let  us  see  if  thy  garments  are 
pure  and  unspotted  !  As  the  serpent  crept  into  the  gar 
den  of  Eden,  and  by  his  subtlety  tempted  Adam  and  Eve 


ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED.  24:5 

to  depart  from  their  holy  estate,  so  hast  thou  sought  to 
entwine  thyself  around  the  heart  of  the  poor,  ignorant, 
confiding  Slave,  and  lead  him  through  the  labyrinth  of 
ruin.  Happy  and  contented  at  his  home,  thou  didst  find 
him  and  poured  thy  poisonous  breath  into  his  ear,  and 
brought  upon  him  irretrievable  ruin.  The  blood  of  infants, 
like  Moloch  of  old,  has  stained  thy  hands,  because  thou 
didst  induce  the  mother  to  escape,  who,  if  not  tempted  by 
thee,  would  have  remained  at  her  home,  happy  and  con 
tented.  Thou  didst  draw  her  into  that  perilous  condition, 
the  most  frightful  to  the  Slave,  in  which,  by  the  instiga 
tion  of  the  Devil,  if  not  by  thyself,  she  felt  herself  con 
strained  to  pour  out  the  blood  of  an  innocent  and  harm 
less  child.  But  here,  let  the  curtain  fall — I  have  done 
with  Ohio." 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

The  'Squire  and  David  at  home — The  Pony — Final  Conversation. 

"  HERE  we  are,  at  home  once  more,"  said  the  'Squire 
to  David,  "  and  on  the  soil  of  our  beloved  Kentucky. 
We  have  had  hairbreadth  escapes  from  those  malicious 
negroes  in  Canada,  and  for  our  escape,  we  are  chiefly  in 
debted  to  that  splendid  little  pony.  Oh  1  I  must  see  him 
at  once.  Tell  the  hostler  to  bring  him  in  the  yard,  that 
we  may  feast  our  eyes  upon  him." 

After  a  few  moments'  absence,  David  returned,  and 
informed  his  uncle,  the  pony  was  in  the  yard.  He  imme 
diately  walked  out,  and  addressed  Henry,  the  hostler,  in 
the  following  words : 

"  Well,  Henry,  have  you  treated  this  little  horse  with 
the  utmost  kindness,  ever  since  his  arrival?  Have  you 
given  him  a-plenty  of  oats  and  hay — or  whatever  he  most 
relished ;  and  then,  a-plenty  of  good  soft  straw,  upon 
which  he  could  repose  of  nights.  To  us,  he  has  been  a 
precious  pony,  having  borne  us  twice  away  from  infuri 
ated  mobs  of  negroes  in  Canada.  By  his  agility  and 
speed,  our  lives  have  been  preserved,  to  be  present  with 
you  all  this  day." 


246  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

"  Yes,  'Squire,"  said  Henry.  "  He  has  lived  like  one  leetle 
prince,  ever  since  he  has  been  here — he  aint  wanted  for  no 
thing.  You  sees  his  hair  is  soft  and  glossy — oh,  he  is  antic 
as  a  monkey.  I  rubbed  him  down  twice  every  day — gave 
him  plenty  of  good  cool  water,  right  out  of  the  spring.  At 
the  crack  of  the  whip,  now — all  creation  could  not  keep 
up  with  him.  I  tho't  I'll  try  him  one  day,  to  see  if  he 
was  such  a  fast  goer ;  so  I  hitched  him  to  the  buggy — 
that  same  nice  little  vehicle  what  comes  with  him ;  so 
when  I  comes  on  that  pooty,  smooth  road,  as  what  leads 
down  the  river,  I  fetched  a  whistle  and  cracked  the  whip ; 
of  all  the  leetle  rascals — the  way  he  played  his  feet  was  a 
caution  to  Jim  Crow." 

"  I  suppose,"  said  the  'Squire,  "  it  frightened  out  some 
of  your  Dutch  wet.  How  did  you  like  the  speed  ?" 

"  Speed  !  mine  Got !  I  tried  to  say  wo-a,  and  I  hadn't 
breath  left  to  say  that  leetle  word.  I  couldn't  see  nothing 
all  along  the  road  but  one  blue  streak.  I  hauled  him  up 
arter  a  while,  by  nearly  pulling  off  dese  arms.  So  I 
brings  him  back  to  the  stable — sez  I,  stay  in  here,  ye 
leetle  varmant,  till  such  time  as  the  old  'Squire  gets 
home,  for  I'll  not  try  your  bottom  agin — I  don't  love  such 
fast  fun  as  that,  may  be  I  don't." 

"  You  can  take  him  back  to  the  stable,"  said  the  'Squire 
to  Henry,  and  let  him  fare  sumptuously — we  owe  to  him 
a  debt  of  gratitude,  we  shall  never  be  able  to  repay," 

After  which,  the  'Squire  and  David,  seated  in  a  sump 
tuous  hall,  warmed  up  for  their  accommodation,  in  the 
splendid  mansion  of  the  'Squire,  held  the  following — 
their  final  conversation : 

"  Now,  David,"  said  the  'Squire,  u  our  journeyings 
have  come  to  a  close.  Here  we  are,  under  our  own  roof, 
safe  and  sound.  What  reflections  are  you  disposed  to  make 
upon  our  gleanings  and  the  boisterous  scenes  through 
which  we  have  been  constrained  to  pass  ?" 

u  Well,  uncle,  my  soul  is  weighed  down  with  the  woes 
I  see  suspended  over  my  beloved,  native  land.  Free- 
Soilism,  like  a  dark  and  portentous  cloud,  hangs  sus 
pended  in  the  Eastern  horizon ;  how  soon  it  may  burst 
and  prostrate  all  our  ardent  hopes,  I  cannot  tell." 

"I   know  not  myself,  David,  what  to  think  of  the 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  247 

entanglement  of  public  .affairs.  I  had  hoped  the  principle 
so  fairly  settled  by  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill,  would  not 
have  been  disturbed.  I  could  not  find  any  valid  objection 
to  allowing  the  inhabitants  of  the  Territories  to  decide  for 
themselves,  whether  they  preferred  free  or  slave  labor.  By 
this  means,  the  disturbing  question  of  Slavery  would  be 
removed  forever  from  the  halls  of  Congress,  where  its 
discussion  has  been  productive  of  such  infinite  mischief." 

u  The  South,  uncle,  is  contented  to  rest  the  question 
where  it  is  now  placed ;  and  if  the  North  would  yield, 
the  harmony  of  the  Union  would  be  immediately  restored." 

u  That  I  admit,  David ;  but  I  can  see  no  indications  from 
the  North  to  encourage  such  a  hope.  Stronger  feelings 
of  hostility  to  Southern  Institutions  seem  to  be  growing 
up  in  that  section." 

"  I  must  say,  uncle,  that  hostility  is  most  unreasonable 
and  unjust.  Why  persecute  us  for  an  evil — if  it  must  be 
so  considered — which  is  not  of  our  creation,  but  the  work 
of  our  ancestors  ?  The  great  problem  left  for  our  solution 
is,  what  disposition  can  we  make  of  the  slaves  which  we 
find  among  us  ?  Have  we  not  wisdom  enough  to  adjust 
this  dangerous  question — one  in  which  we  alone  are  inter 
ested — without  interference  from  the  North  ?" 

"  I  suppose,  David,  we  have  to  suffer  for  the  deeds  of 
former  generations.  The  doctors  of  Divinity  assure  us 
that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  original  sin.  Although  we 
were  not  in  existence  at  the  time  of  the  transgression  of 
Eve  and  Adam,  yet,  by  a  mysterious  connection,  that  sin 
has  traveled  down  through  the  long  line  of  Adam's  pos 
terity  to  this  generation,  who  are  none  the  less  guilty 
than  our  head  and  representative." 

"  If  that  be  so,  uncle,  and  I  am  not  going  to  enter  into 
a  controversy  on  that  intricate  point,  all  I  can  say  is,  we 
were  not  present  to  prevent  it.  If  suffer  for  it  we  must, 
I  will  aim  to  meet  it  with  resignation." 

"  I  have  one  objection  to  this  incurred  responsibility, 
David,  and  that  is,  to  be  disgraced  and  punished  for  the 
sins  of  old  England,  the  great  monopolist ,  at  one  time, 
of  the  African  Slave  Trade." 

"  That  is,  I  confess,  a  peculiar  hardship,  uncle ;  but  if 
it  is  ordained  of  fate,  it  is  folly  to  resist.  England 


24:8  ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED. 

planted  us  in  this  "Western  world,  and  at  the  same  time, 
placed  along  side  of  us  the  African,  who  was  finally  to 
be  our  overthrow  and  ruin." 

"  When  I  think  of  the  controversy,  David,  now  raging 
between  the  North  and  South,  the  African  appears  alone 
to  be  the  apple  of  discord.  If  he  were  out  of  the  ques 
tion,  the  harmony  of  the  Union  would  be  safe  and  undis 
turbed.  We  are  not  distracted  in  any  other  respect." 

"  That  is  a  mortifying  spectacle  for  this  great  nation  to 
present,  uncle.  Our  whole  political  machinery  works 
discordant  in  consequence  of  this  African  ingredient  in 
our  body  politic." 

"  That  is  true,  David,  and  must  be  obvious  to  the  most 
superficial  observer.  Our  National  Government  is  almost 
prostrated.  So  numerous  are  the  factions  in  Congress,  so 
split  up  and  divided  are  the  members  of  the  Lower  House, 
that  a  majority  cannot  unite  in  the  election  of  Speaker. 
After  fifty-two  ballots,  no  choice  has  been  made ;  and 
without  one,  there  can  be  no  organization  of  the  House. 
What  may  be  the  final  result,  no  one  can  tell ;  but  even 
if  a  speaker  be  elected,  still  the  government  is  incapable 
of  any  definite  action.  It  will  be  a  mere  incubus  upon 
the  country.  As  to  its  fulfilling  the  great  objects  of  its 
creation,  that '  is  foreign  to  the  hope.'  The  great  interests 
of  the  nation  must  suffer  and  be  neglected.  I  can  see  no 
escape." 

"Is  not  this  an  extremely  unfortunate  position  for  this 
nation  to  be  in,  uncle,  at  this  critical  conjuncture  in  the 
affairs  of  the  old  world  ?"  Our  divisions  and  distractions 
produce  weakness,  and  weakness  invites  insult  and 
aggression." 

"  So  it  seems  to  me,  David.  The  alliance  between 
England  and  France  was  not  only  to  circumscribe  and 
humble  Russia,  but  extends  to  this  hemisphere.  We,  too, 
must  feel  their  chastening  rod,  and  be  brought  to  lick 
the  dust  from  their  proud  and  haughty  feet,  so  soon  as 
this  war  with  Russia  can  be  brought  to  an  honorable  close." 

"  The  great  SPIRIT  of  WASHINGTON,  uncle,  if  it  could 
be  invoked  to  look  down  upon  our  feeble  and  helpless 
national  condition,  would  weep  over  the  distractions  and 
follies  of  his  pountrymen." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  24:9 

"  Our  government  has  lost  its  capacity  for  action, 
David.  Anarchy,  confusion,  and  bloodshed  must  follow; 
then  despotism  steps  in  to  close  the  scene.  Thus  all 
ancient  republics  have  fallen,  and  can  we  escape  a  similar 
fate  ?  One  remarkable  fact  will  strike  the  attention  in 
reading  the  history  of  nations,  that  LIBERTY  can  be  easily 
lost,  but  never  can  be  permanently  regained" 

"  That  makes  her,  uncle,  so  precious  a  jewel — a  jewel 
that  can  only  be  preserved  by  eternal  vigilance.  Why 
are  not  all  mankind  free  ?  How  came  they  to  be  other 
wise  ?  Let  the  response  come  up  from  England,  France — 
nay,  all  the  nations  of  the  earth." 

ci  But  one  response,  David,  could  be  heard,  and  that 
would  be,  We  were  incapable  of  appreciating  and  preserv 
ing  so  great  a  blessing — so  valuable  a  jewel  as  liberty. 
Though  the  confession  would  be  derogatory  to  the  intelli 
gence  of  our  race,  yet  it  would  be  true.  France  recently 
had  it  in  her  power  to  be  free — was  free — but  she  soon 
bowed  her  neck,  gentle  as  a  lamb,  under  the  iron  yoke  of 
Louis  Napoleon.  England  has  beheaded  kings,  but  the 
work  was  in  vain — in  the  end,  monarchy  was  re-estab 
lished.  Rome  had  her  commonwealth — it  perished  ;  the 
die  was  cast  when  Caesar  passed  the  Rubicon.  Pompey 
fell,  and  with  him  liberty  vanished.  The  usurper  was 
slain  in  the  Senate  house,  by  Brutus,  Cassius,  and  others. 
His  death,  however,  did  not  put  an  end  to  tyranny — that 
endured  while  Rome  had  an  existence." 

"These  are  historic  truths,  uncle,  and  should  impress 
upon  the  minds  of  all  the  weighty  responsibility  of  main 
taining,  in  their  vigor  and  purity,  our  Free  Institutions,  and 
transmiting  them  unimpaired  to  succeeding  generations. 
Oh  !  what  a  rich  heritage  has  descended  to  us  !  Shall  it 
be  said  of  those  now  living,  they  were  incapable  of  its 
preservation  ?  My  humble  aim  has  been  to  strengthen 
the  bonds  of  the  Union,  to  show  its  immense  value  to 
our  happiness,  individually  and  collectively,  and  warn 
my  countrymen  of  the  dangers  that  now  environ  it.  If 
my  efforts,  however  feeble,  have  had  a  tendency  to  nerve 
their  arms  in  its  defense,  I  shall  retire  satisfied  to  the 
sunny  fields  of  the  South,  there  to  await,  with  fearful 
anxiety,  the  momentous  issues  of  the  future." 


250  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

"  May  Heaven's  choice  blessings,  my  dear  David," 
rejoined  the  'Squire,  "  rest  upon  thy  head.  Thou  hast 
journeyed  with  me,  and  participated  in  my  perils.  And 
here,  alas  !  we  must  part." 

Now,  kind  reader,  whoever  thou  art,  what  parting 
word  must  I  utter  ?  I  can  but  implore  thee  to  remember 
the  value  of  the  deposit  left  in  thy  hands — the  liberty  of 
thy  country.  Upon  thee  its  preservation  partly  depends  ; 
and  when  years  shall  have  rolled  away,  "may  these  States 
be  one  and  inseparable."  May  the  stars  that  float  on  our 
flag,  not  wane  or  diminish,  but  go  on  to  increase  in  num 
ber,  and  shine  with  brighter  effulgence  "  until  the  consum 
mation  of  all  things." 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

Conclusion. 

NOT  intending  to  publish  hereafter  a  KEY  to  the  pre 
ceding  work,  the  Author  will,  in  conclusion,  observe,  that 
he  has  aimed  to  give  the  influence  of  Abolitionism  on 
the  slave  population  in  the  border  counties,  in  Kentucky, 
fairly  and  fully.  At  the  same  time  a  few  slaves  have 
made  their  escape  to  parts  unknown,  great  numbers  have 
been  sold  and  transported  farther  South.  In  this  aspect, 
Abolitionism  has  been  a  curse  instead  of  a  benefit  to  the 
negroes.  The  mobism  manifested  by  the  negroes  in 
Canada  to  the  citizens  of  the  South,  is  not  a  fiction  but  a 
reality,  as  many  can  testify. 

A  charge  has  been  brought  against  the  Abolitionists, 
in  the  body  of  the  work,  of  electing  men  to  office  with  a 
view  of  defeating  the  operations  of  the  Fugitive  Slave 
Law.  In  confirmation  of  that  charge,  the  Author  will 
submit  the  following  resolution,  adopted  by  a  Convention 
held  in  Lake  County,  Ohio: 

"Resolved — That  our  delegates  are  hereby  instructed 
to  vote  for  no  man,  for  the  office  of  District  Judge,  who  is 
not  opposed  to  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law,  on  constitutional 
grounds,  and  who  will  not  by  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  inter 
pose  the  authority  of  the  State  against  its  execution." 


ABOLITIONISM   UNVEILED.  251 

It  will  be  remembered  that  George,  in  "  Uncle  Tom's 
Cabin,"  was  made  the  inventor  of  a  labor-saving  ma 
chine,  thereby  displaying  considerable  genius.  In  pure 
deference  to  that  high  authority,  the  Author  has  endowed 
his  u  Shan"  with  more  sagacity  and  penetration  than  he 
has  conceded  to  a  learned  professor. 

The  author,  in  his  travels  in  the  vicinity  of  Oberlin, 
some  years  ago,  derived  the  incidents  of  the  "  prayerful 
whipping"  from  sundry  persons  in  that  region  of  country, 
upon  whose  veracity  he  relied.  It  is  not,  therefore,  a 
mere  fiction  of  his  brain. 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  Abolition  excitement  in 
the  United  States,  is  ascribed  to  foreign  influence.  This 
is  a  serious  charge  and  ought  not  to  be  lightly  made. 
Sundry  facts  in  the  knowledge  of  the  author,  have  forced 
him,  though  reluctantly,  to  that  conclusion.  The  dona 
tion  of  $30,000  to  the  Oberlin  College,  by  some  one  in 
England,  was  related  to  the  author  by  credible  persons. 

The  threats  of  the  black  British  officer  in  Canada, 
were  made  to  a  gentleman  of  Kentucky,  and  the  author 
has  given  the  words  as  reported  to  him.  Now  take  this 
donation,  the  threats  of  the  negro  officer,  and  then  peruse 
the  following  extract  taken  from  a  speech,  delivered  upon 
the  floor  of  Congress  by  the  Honorable  Joshua  R.  Gid- 
dings — what  does  it  all  signify  ? 

u  I  look  forward  to  the  day  when  there  shall  be  a  ser 
vile  insurrection  in  the  South ;  when  the  black  man, 
armed  with  British  bayonets  and  led  on  by  British  offi 
cers,  shall  assert  his  freedom  and  wage  a  war  of  extermi 
nation  against  his  master  ;  when  the  torch  of  the  incen 
diary  shall  light  up  the  towns  and  cities  of  the  South,  and 
blot  out  the  last  vestige  of  Slavery.  And  though  I  may  not 
mock  at  their  calamity,  nor  laugh  when  their  fear  cometh, 
yet  I  will  hail  it  as  the  dawn  of  a  political  millennium." 

Then  again,  the  London  Daily  News,  under  date  of 
Nov.  1,  publishes  an  article  specially  devoted  to  American 
affairs.  The  Union  is  considered  to  be  on  the  point  of 
breaking  up,  the  National  Government  is  pronounced  to 
be  unworkable,  and  here  is  the  language  used  in  respect 
to  the  Northern  States : 

"  They  have  borne  more  indignities  than  we  have  space 


252  ABOLITIONISM    UNVEILED. 

to  tell ;  so  that  they  are  now  asking  each  other,  even  in 
their  newspapers,  was  not  the  government  of  England 
harmless  compared  to  the  tyrannical  government  of 
slave-holders  f" 

But  in  what  estimate  do  they  hold  the  right  of  suffrage 
in  England  ?  what  think  they  of  representative  govern 
ment  ?  Hear  the  sapient  editor  on  that  point.: 

"  The  American  nation  is  not  truly  and  permanently  re 
presented  by  any  number  of  unscrupulous  men  who  climb 
into  office  on  the  towering  passions  of  the  multitude." 

The  editor  believes  a  war  with  England  would  dissolve 
the  Union.  He  thus  sums  up  his  article : 

"  These  are  a  few  of  the  reasons  which  compel  us  to 
agree  with  American  citizens  who  say,  a  war  with  Eng 
land  would  dissolve  the  Union.  The  danger  is  that  law 
less  aggression  from  the  South  may  compel  us  to  declare 
war ;  but,  in -that  worst  case,  we  still  have  confident  hope 
that  the  prudent  and  virtuous  secession  of  the  Free 
States,"  etc.  Again,  t;  Every  one  of  those  will  assuredly 
consider  a  war  of  aggression — a  war  with  the  liberating 
powers  of  Europe"  etc. 

The  author  will  not  extend  his  quotations,  he  com 
mends  the  whole  article  to  the  careful  perusal  of  every 
true-hearted  American.  The  liberating  powers  of  En- 
rope  ! — France  and  England — in  alliance  strong  to  crush 
one  nation  —  ay,  to  bring  Russia  to  their  feet.  "Why  this 
vast  combination  against  an  independent  power  ?  Is  not 
Russia  entitled  to  her  nationality  ?  Who  can  desire  to 
see  her  prostrated?  Must  England  and  France  be  the 
arbiters  of  the  world  ? — must  all  other  nations  do  obei 
sance  to  them  ? — must  they  hold  the  balance,  and  make 
nations  sink  or  rise  according  to  their  sovereign  will? 
These  are  solemn  questions,  and  deserve  calm  considera 
tion.  iVJ- 


THE     END. 


14  DAY  USE 

MSK  **0M  WHICH 


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